The Glenbuchat Ballads

Glossary

2 aboon above ae one aff off ain own airess seat poss. rel. to airie amo among an if ane one aul old ay(e) always ba ball bade past. of ask and also of bide bairn infant, child baith both ban curse ban band baul(est) bold(est) bear an inferior but robust variety of barley bed bothered; cared beir noise; complaint; fuss ben [prep.] by; in ben [n.] a thick leather ben [n.] see but and ben bennison blessing bent slope or hill; a hillock covered in coarse grass biel shelter birk birch birling drinking boer; boor bower borrow ransom; pay a pledge for someone ’s release bot [prep. but] without boun bound, going brak broke bran(d) sword brechan [breechin] a Highland plaid bridestool a pew reserved for the bride and bridegroom brig bridge brook enjoy; make good use of brugh see SND broch, n.2, a burgh or town brunt burnt buckle dress burn stream busk prepare, ready, dress but an and also Glossary The glossary has been compiled from four main sources: The Scottish National Dictionary (SND), Jamieson’s Dictionary of the Scottish Language (DSL), The Oxford English Dictionary (OED), and Child’s glossary (ESPB 5: 309–96). Inevitably, there are a few words for which definitions could not be found or for which the definitions available do not seem to apply to the usage in the manuscript. Where appropriate, possible connections between terms are suggested , though I have tried to keep “guesses” to a minimum. Where variant spellings are used in the MS, the dictionary spelling is given in square brackets [] before the definition. [J.M.] 22 Glossary but . . . ben principle rooms in a cottage; the parlor and the kitchen; hence to go but and ben; to go back and forth cadger’s creel peddlar’s pack canny clever carse alluvial land; low fertile land near a river caul a cap worn by women caup a wooden bowl claes clothes clooty; clouty ragged, patched coat alone half dressed; coat = petticoat coffer a box for valuables crub restrain; often used in ref. to strict discipline curtch kerchief worn over the head cyper a henna shrub noted for its white, fragrant flowers dansicle [Child 235A, 63 : Dantzic] darraine [v. derene] to challenge or strive against (DSL), i.e. endure?; see also SND doren = curse; damn deal apportion; serve deem make judgement den a small valley or hollow dey dairy worker, male or female; term of respect for an older male, a father or grandfather di do; go dight wipe clean; dry dine [n.] dinner ding shoot, strike dole sorrow dowie dreary drags harrows dree; drie rue; regret dreed fear; suspicion duck(ers) dive(rs) dyke wall or fence ee eye een evening evis bore [avis-bore] knot hole; sometimes known as “elf-bore” and attributed with an apotropaic quality fae [prep.] from fae [n.] foe faen fallen faich poss. rel. to faugh? = pale; pale brown; yellow fair fa you may fortune be with you faul fold fause false fay prob. fey = fate feam [faem] foam feck battle; argue; wear down feid enmity fere companion; comrade; spouse ferrow of a cow, not in calf; fig. barren fey fated to die fiere see fere frae from fu full gae go gar make; cause; past gart gare [gair] a vent at the neck or bottom of a tunic gelly [jelly] honest; honourable gi(e) give gied went gin if girdle belt gleed live coal or peat ember; a fire that burns red hot but without flame gleyd askew; in ref. to eyes, crossed goud / gowd gold graith equip; array; dress grat see greet graun an yare stout and ready greet cry guid good guise matter; situation habergeon sleeveless coat of mail had; haud keep; stay had hold halbert [halberd] spear and battle axe combined hap cover harn pan skull haul [n.] a great quantity heckle pin pin on a flax comb heiding hill gallows hill; place of execution heil well heal; cure; take care of herd widdifus scoundrel; theif; cattle reiver; heugh precipice; steep cliff hind; hynd young man; farm laborer hin[e] [hyne], away, far 2 Glossary hough [haugh] land beside a river ilka each Irse Erse; Gaelic ither other jack jacket of mail jimp close fitting garment; bodice joes lovers; sweethearts jointure dowry; property reserved for a wife on her husband’s death kemb comb ken(t) know (knew) kep catch knap (knee)-cap...