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 SCOTTISH PROVERBS,
 
 Scottish Proverbs. 
 
 COLLECTED AND ARRANGED 
 
 ANDREW HENDERSON. 
 
 NEW EDITION, 
 
 WITH EXPLANATORY NOTES AND A GLOSSARY, 
 
 JAMES DONALD, F.R.G.S,, 
 
 EDITOR OF ' ETYMOLOGICAL DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, 
 ' ENGLISH DICTIONARY,' ' HISTORY OF SCOTLAND,' ETC. 
 
 LONDON: 
 WILLIAM TEGG S: CO., PANCRAS LANE CHEAPSIDE. 
 
 I 876.
 
 12 i(^ 
 
 PREFACE TO NEW EDITION. 
 
 THIS edition of Henderson's Proverbs contains 
 the whole of Henderson's Collection, without 
 diminution or addition. The arrangement has been 
 improved by alphabetising the entries under each 
 heading, and explanatory notes, many of which are 
 taken from Kelly, are added to such proverbs as seemed 
 
 ^ to call for them. Prefixed to the original edition was 
 an Introductory Essay by the poet Motherwell. This, 
 
 (fi which the writer himself characterized as prolix, is here 
 
 ^. presented considerably abridged. 
 
 is^ J. D. 
 
 Q 
 
 o 
 
 CO 
 
 410749
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Age - 
 
 
 PAGE 
 
 I 
 
 Debt 
 
 PAGE 
 II 
 
 Anger 
 
 
 I 
 
 Delay 
 
 II 
 
 Avarice - 
 
 
 2 
 
 Destiny - 
 
 II 
 
 Bairns 
 
 
 2 
 
 Devil 
 
 II 
 
 Beauty 
 
 
 3 
 
 Diffidence 
 
 12 
 
 Beggary - 
 
 
 4 
 
 Dirt - 
 
 13 
 
 Blindness 
 
 
 4 
 
 Dress 
 
 13 
 
 Boasting - 
 
 
 4 
 
 Drunkenness - 
 
 13 
 
 Breeding - 
 
 
 5 
 
 Early Rising - 
 
 15 
 
 Butter 
 
 
 5 
 
 Eating 
 
 15 
 
 Care 
 
 
 5 
 
 Economy - 
 
 15 
 
 Cause and Effect - 
 
 5 
 
 Envy 
 
 i6 
 
 Caution - 
 
 - 
 
 6 
 
 Evil - 
 
 i6 
 
 Charity - 
 
 
 7 
 
 Evil Company - 
 
 17 
 
 Cleanliness 
 
 
 7 
 
 Evil Conduct - 
 
 17 
 
 Comparison 
 
 
 7 
 
 Evil Disposition 
 
 i8 
 
 Contentment 
 
 
 8 
 
 Evil Example - 
 
 i8 
 
 Courage - 
 
 
 8 
 
 Evil Speaking - 
 
 i8 
 
 Courtship 
 
 
 8 
 
 Evil Wishing - 
 
 19 
 
 Covetousness 
 
 
 9 
 
 Example - 
 
 19 
 
 Cowardice 
 
 
 9 
 
 Experience 
 
 19 
 
 Credit 
 
 
 9 
 
 Extremes - 
 
 19 
 
 Cunning - 
 
 - 
 
 lO 
 
 Falsehood 
 
 20 
 
 Death 
 
 - 
 
 10 
 
 Fame - 
 
 20
 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 
 vii 
 
 
 PAGE 
 
 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Fear - 
 
 20 
 
 Jesting 
 
 
 36 
 
 Flattery - 
 
 20 
 
 Justice 
 
 
 36 
 
 Folly 
 
 21 
 
 Kindness - 
 
 
 37 
 
 Foresight 
 
 22 
 
 Kings 
 
 
 57 
 
 Fortune - 
 
 23 
 
 Kissing 
 
 
 38 
 
 Friendship 
 
 - 23 
 
 Laughter 
 
 
 38 
 
 Gentility 
 
 27 
 
 Law - 
 
 
 38 
 
 Gift - 
 
 - 27 
 
 Laziness - 
 
 
 39 
 
 Gluttony 
 
 28 
 
 Learning - 
 
 
 40 
 
 God - 
 
 25 
 
 Love - 
 
 
 40 
 
 Good - 
 
 26 
 
 Lying 
 
 
 41 
 
 Good Conduct - 
 
 26 
 
 Maidens - 
 
 
 62 
 
 Good Counsel - 
 
 - ^1 
 
 Manners - 
 
 
 41 
 
 Gratitude 
 
 28 
 
 Marriage - 
 
 
 41 
 
 Greed 
 
 29 
 
 Master 
 
 
 42 
 
 Habit 
 
 30 
 
 Meat 
 
 
 43 
 
 Happiness 
 
 30 
 
 Merchandise 
 
 
 43 
 
 Haste 
 
 30 
 
 Necessity 
 
 
 44 
 
 Health - 
 
 31 
 
 Neighbours 
 
 
 44 
 
 Help 
 
 31 
 
 Patience - 
 
 
 45 
 
 Home 
 
 32 
 
 Plenty 
 
 
 45 
 
 Honesty - 
 
 - 32 
 
 Poverty - 
 
 
 45 
 
 Honour - 
 
 32 
 
 Praise 
 
 
 46 
 
 Hope 
 
 32 
 
 Prayer 
 
 
 47 
 
 HUxMAN Life - 
 
 33 
 
 Pride 
 
 
 47 
 
 Hunger - 
 
 33 
 
 Property - 
 
 
 49 
 
 Idleness - 
 
 34 
 
 Prudence in Action 
 
 49 
 
 Industry - 
 
 - 35 
 
 Prudence in 
 
 CON- 
 
 
 Ingratitude - 
 
 - 36 
 
 VERSATION 
 
 - 
 
 51 
 
 Jealousy - 
 
 - 36 
 
 Reputation 
 
 - 
 
 52
 
 viii 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 
 
 
 PAGE 
 
 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Riches 
 
 52 
 
 Visitors, 
 
 Welcome 
 
 
 Selfishness 
 
 54 
 
 AND Unwelcome - 
 
 57 
 
 Self Will 
 
 54 
 
 War - 
 
 . 
 
 58 
 
 Slander - 
 
 54 
 
 Waste 
 
 . 
 
 58 
 
 Sorrow 
 
 55 
 
 Will 
 
 - 
 
 58 
 
 Stealing - 
 
 - 55 
 
 Wisdom 
 
 . 
 
 59 
 
 Sycophancy 
 
 55 
 
 Wives 
 
 . 
 
 60 
 
 Taste 
 
 - 56 
 
 Woman 
 
 . 
 
 60 
 
 Thriftlessness 
 
 - 56 
 
 Worth 
 
 . 
 
 63 
 
 Truth 
 
 57 
 
 Worthlessness 
 
 63 
 
 Virtue 
 
 57 
 
 Youth 
 
 - 
 
 64 
 
 Truisms 65 
 
 Miscellaneous 98 
 
 Weather and Seasons - - -' - - - 152 
 
 Proverbial Phrases- 
 Relating TO Flattery and Promising - - 157 
 In Answer TO the Question How d'ye DO? - 157 
 Relating TO Threatening . . . - 158 
 
 Relating to the Horse 159 
 
 Characteristic Points of a Good Greyhound, 
 
 &c. 160 
 
 Useful Extracts from Tusser - - - - 161 
 
 Glossary 167
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 IT is so long since a collection of onr national proverbs, of 
 similar extent to the present, has been given to the public 
 of Scotland, that we believed it might have been welcomed by 
 our countrymen, although the formality of a preface, bespeaking 
 their kind attention to its merits, had been dispensed with. 
 Deferring, however, to the v/ishes of the ingenious and laborious 
 author, — who, in the matter of books, as well as other things, 
 objects to any violent departure from established usage, — the 
 following preliminary observations have been drawn up, which 
 the reader may or may not peruse^ just as he has a mind. We 
 are modest enough to think that in either case his loss or gain 
 will not be much ; for in truth our pretensions to being 
 
 Well seene 
 In wittie riddles, and in wise soothsayes, 
 
 are exceedingly moderate. 
 
 " The genius, wit, and spirit of a nation," says Lord Bacon, 
 " are discovered in their proverbs ;" and this profound though 
 hackneyed observation never received a better exemplification 
 than a patient survey of the contents of the present volume will 
 afford to the study of national characteristics. Few countries 
 can lay claim to a more abundant store of these pithy sayings 
 t han our own ; and no people, at one time, were more attached 
 
 V <
 
 X PREFACE. 
 
 to the use of these significant and figurative lacouisms than 
 Scotsmen. To a certain extent, all seemed to think in proverbs, 
 and to prefer the same medium for expression, whether in 
 writing or in conversation. Alluding to the esteem in which 
 they were held at the beginning of last century, Kelly thus 
 expresses himself : "Among others, the Scots are wonderfully 
 given to this Way of Speaking ; and, as the consequence of that, 
 abound with Proverbs, many of v/hich are very expressive, 
 quick, and home to the Purpose. And indeed, this Humour 
 prevails universally over the whole nation, especially among the 
 better sort of the Community, none of whom will discourse with 
 you any considerable time, but he will confirm every assertion and 
 observation with a Scottish Proverb." Leaving out the speciality 
 noticed by our learned author, his remarks in other respects hold 
 good till the present day. But fashions in literature are as fluctua- 
 ting as they are in the minor departments of taste ; and we much 
 fear that the day of proverbs, " among the better sort of the com- 
 munity," has in a sense drawn to a close. Within the last century. 
 Time's ploughshare has cut a deep and a long furrow, and proverbs, 
 if not torn up by the roots, have to a certain extent been earthed 
 from sight. Their use by writers on factitious manners and 
 subjects of taste has been condemned as vulgar and unfashionable, 
 and as it is always easier for the multitude to adopt opinions than 
 to form them for themselves, the sentiments of even superficial 
 thinkers find many willing followers. Our present system of 
 education, and what, for want of a more precise term, we call 
 the spirit of the age, are hostile to the oral enunciation of these 
 ancient sentences of wisdom and worldly prudence. But although 
 the shifting currents of fashion and taste have sought new 
 channels, we do not anticipate a final extinction of apothegmatic 
 knowledge. Fortunately, it is indestructible as language itself.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 and when the present changes in the moral and intellectual 
 aspect of society have run their appointed course, the sententious 
 saws of antecedent centuries will again stud with their epigram- 
 matic brilliancy written and colloquial discourse. One law 
 which we never should lose sight of, is well expressed by Sir 
 Walter Raleigh, in his book of Political and Polemical Aphoiisms. 
 " Whoso desireth to know what will be hereafter, let him think 
 of that is past ; for the World hath ever been in a circular 
 Revolution : Whatsoever is now was heretofore, and things past 
 or present are no other than such as shall be again. Redit orbis 
 in oii'eni.'''' 
 
 There is no surer sign of the oral knowledge of a people 
 being on the wane, than the attempt to secure it from oblivion by 
 collecting its fragments and printing them in books. Whenever 
 either the National songs, the popular tales, or prudential maxims 
 of a country are curiously and diligently gathered, and transferred 
 to another ark of safety than that of the living voice, it may be 
 safely inferred that changes in the character and habits of 
 feeling and of thinking, of the people themselves, are in progress 
 deemed inimical to their longer preservation in a pure, accurate, 
 and authentic form. Betwixt man and oblivion there is a 
 perpetual warfare. Whether we look upon him as an isolated 
 individual, or part of one great family, still the solitary exertions 
 of the individual, or the combined efforts of the whole are 
 directed to this one grand object — perpetuity of remembrance. 
 Not more assiduously does the patient Dutchman fortify himself 
 against the heavy swell of the vast Atlantic than does one age 
 strive to transmit to another an unimpaired mental inheritance. 
 Without any exaggeration of expression, or absurdity in philo- 
 sophical reasoning, this eager, active, and undying longing to be 
 remembered may be designated the principle of life itself, as it
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 is of all action in life. To the working of this great principle, 
 every great invention for the transmission of knowledge from 
 age to age may be safely and satisfactorily traced. 
 
 For these reasons, much of the regret we feel that there have 
 been so few collectors of proverbs amongst us is greatly 
 diminished. It is a sign that their oral existence was not deemed 
 to be in a precarious state, and that to ensure their preservation, 
 it was not considered necessary (if we may be allowed the 
 expression) to mn77imify them into books, and to swaddle them 
 up in sheets of learned com^mentary and illustration. 
 
 Our first collection, so far as we have been enabled to discover, 
 takes its date only from the era of the Reformation, According 
 to Mackenzie — a writer, however, whose authority is by no means 
 of the highest order when uncorroborated by other evidence — 
 James Beaton, Archbishop of Glasgow, made a collection of 
 Scottish Proverbs. This statement is given on the report 
 of Dempster, a writer whose accuracy is also frequently 
 called in question by those versant in Scotch literature. 
 ******* 
 
 Assuming for the present, and in the absence of direct proof to 
 the contrary, that the first of our parremiographers was Archbishop 
 Beaton, the next in order of time, as to authorship, though a 
 contemporary, was also a churchman, but of the Reformed 
 faith, Mr. David Ferguson, minister of Dunfermline. It is 
 worthy of remark, that divines have been the most assiduous 
 cultivators of this subordinate branch of literature, both in 
 England and Scotland. In Scotland our ministers seem to have 
 had a most extraordinary relish for these quaint and homely 
 saws. Ferguson was in his day distinguished for his inveterate 
 love of them ; and at a subsequent period, Zachary Boyd, Rector
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 of Glasgow University, has, in his " Last Battell of the Soule,'* 
 given quite a cento of common proverbialisms. * '■' * 
 
 Of Ferguson, the historian of Knox speaks with a partiality 
 not unmerited. He was a native of Dundee, and though not a 
 graduate of a college, he was very far from being illiterate, and 
 was much admired for the quickness of his wit and his good 
 taste, as well as for his piety. While other leaders of the 
 Reformation were busied cultivating the literature of Greece and 
 Rome, Ferguson was equally assiduous in polishing the ver- 
 nacular dialect ; for which service, a tribute, in Latin verses, was 
 paid to him by John Davidson, one of the regents of St. Andrews. 
 " Nor was the improvement of our native tongue,"" says M'Crie, 
 *' neglected at that time. David Ferguson, minister of Dunferm- 
 line, was celebrated for his attention to this branch of composition. 
 He had not enjoyed the advantages of a university education ; 
 but, possessing a good taste and lively fancy, was very successful 
 in refining and enriching the Scottish language by his discourses 
 and writings." ****** 
 
 Ferguson died upon the 23rd August, 1593. Of his collection of 
 " Scots Proverbs," which even in the time of Kelly (1721) was 
 esteemed old and scarce, it has not been our good fortune to 
 meet with an early impression, or even to ascertain the exact 
 dates of all the earlier editions. But in the account given of 
 Ferguson by his son-in-law, John Row, minister of Camock, in 
 his MS. history, we have the following passage, from which it 
 appears that the first edition of the proverbs was printed in 
 1642. " He uttered many quick and wise sentences, which wer 
 taken nottice of. He gathered the Scottish Proverbs together, 
 and set them down ordlnc alphahetico, that same year when he 
 dyed, 1598. They were printed in Edinburgh, Anno 1642."
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 Our copy is comparatively recent and consequently may not cor- 
 respond with that of previous years in more things than the date. 
 The title is — *' A Collection of Scottish Proverbs. The greatest 
 part of which were at first gathered together by Mr. David 
 Ferguson, sometime Minister at Dunfermline, and put into an 
 alphabetical order after he departed this life, anno 1S98." From 
 the above it may be inferred that the sole merit of making this 
 collection was not due to Mr. Ferguson. It plainly shows that he 
 had availed himself of the labours of some previous collector or 
 collectors, and that these, combined with his own additions, 
 form the volume which bears his name. * * * 
 
 The next printed collection to that of the minister of Dun- 
 fermline is the invaluable, and curious, and extensive one made by 
 James Kelly, A.^NI., published at London in 1 721.* Saving what 
 may be gleaned from the volume itself we know nothing of its 
 learned and ingenious author. By birth he was a Scotsman, and 
 
 we are inclined to believe that he was educated for the church. 
 * * ^ * * * * 
 
 Kelly's work appears to have excited Allan Ramsay to 
 undertake a similar task. In his dedicatory letter, dated October 
 15th, 1736, addressed " to the Tenantry of Scotland, Farmers of 
 the Dales, and Storemasters of the Hills," Ramsay refers to that 
 collection of Proverbs in rather contemptuous terms, as " a late 
 large book of them, fou of errors, in a style neither Scots nor 
 Ejiglish" If the somewhat bombastic dedication of Ramsay is 
 to be received as a specimen of either Scots or English we must 
 confess we have never yet been able to form a just estimate of 
 the idiomatic peculiarities of the two dialects. Ramsay boasts 
 
 * A complete collection of Scottish Proverbs Explained and made 
 Intelligible to the English Reader. By James Kelly, A.M. Lend. I721, 
 8vo. Reprinted Lond. 1818, i2mo.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 that his collection has been made with great care, and that he 
 has restored these ]Visc sayings to their proper sense. The first 
 assertion may be true, but the latter is somewhat questionable, 
 at least we, slight as is our knowledge in these matters, have, 
 in two or three instances, detected obvious errors. From his 
 acquaintance with pastoral life, Ramsay has been able to enrich 
 his collection with many proverbs peculiar to the sheep districts 
 of Scotland, which are not to be found either in Ferguson or 
 Yi^Wy. *♦* + »** 
 
 Altogether Ramsay's collection comprises about two thousand 
 two hundred proverbs, arranged alphabetically. It has been 
 frequently reprinted, and a very mean abridgment of it is a 
 common penny stall book. The editions we have seen are dated 
 1737, 1750, 1776, i2mo. **:?** 
 
 From the preceding list, it will be seen how very limited the 
 number of our printed collections of proverbs is, and the list of 
 those preserved in manuscript is still more scanty. * * 
 
 A proverb is somewhat difficult of definition. Erasmus, in 
 the " Prolegomena " to his immense collection of adages, has 
 evinced much acuteness and learning in sifting the definitions of 
 former writers, and in showing where they were imperfect or 
 inapplicable. His dissertation may be consulted with advantage 
 by the scholar, but it would interfere too much with our limits to 
 attempt an analysis of it here. 
 
 DTsraeli, who has a highly interesting and valuable paper on 
 proverbs, truly observes that *• proverbs must be distinguished 
 from proverbial phrases, and from sententious maxims ; but as 
 proverbs have many faces, from their miscellaneous nature, the 
 class itself scarcely admits of any definition. When Johnson 
 defined a proverb to be ' a short sentence frequently repeated by 
 the people,' this definition would not include the most curious
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 ones, which have not always circulated among the populace, nor 
 even belong to them ; nor does it designate vital qualities of a 
 proverb. The pithy quaintness of old Howell has admirably 
 described the ingredients of an exquisite proverb to be sense, 
 shortness, and salt. A proverb is distinguished from a maxim or 
 an apothegm by that brevity which condenses a thought or 
 metaphor where one thing is said and another is to be applied, 
 which often prcduces wit ; and that quick pungency which excites 
 surprise, but strikes with conviction ; which gives it an epigram- 
 matic turn.'' * For all general purposes, the definition of D'Israeli 
 will suftlce, and when in a subsequent page, he very happily says, 
 '' that these abridgments of knowledge convey great results, 
 with a parsimony of words prodigal of sense," he describes an 
 essential feature in proverbs, namely, the condensation of much 
 thought and observation within a small compass. * * 
 
 Ere letters were invented, wisdom was abroad in the world. 
 Proverbs were the germs of moral and political science, and they 
 not unfrequently constituted the compendious vehicles for the 
 transmission of the dogmas of religion, and the first principles of 
 philosophy, of arts, and sciences. In this shape, oral tradition 
 preserved among primitive ages the knowledge of times still 
 more remote ; and what marble, and brass, and other devices of 
 human invention have allowed to perish, proverbs, floating upon 
 the living voice, have perpetuated. It would form no incurious 
 speculation to analyse the various ingenious aids resorted to in 
 the construction of these short sentences, to give them currency 
 and furnish aids to the memory. Brevity is a distinguishing 
 characteristic of them all. Weight of sentiment and justness of 
 metaphor ought to be another, to justify the eulogj' of Tillotson, 
 
 * Curiosities of Literature, (new series,^ vol. i., p. 423.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 where he says, " the little and short sayings of wise and excellent 
 men are of great value, like the dust of gold or the least sparks 
 of diamonds." Antithetical point recommends one class ; allitera- 
 tion, or consonance of letters, another. Some excite attention 
 by a witty and unexpected combination of ideas, and others by 
 a caustic or sly humour ; while not a few, and these perhaps not 
 the least numerous nor least ancient, can be no otherwise 
 described than as an old writer expresses it — 
 
 Rymes running n: a rattling row ; 
 
 which class we are inclined to afiiliate upon our Scandinavian 
 ancestors. To rime a rat to death, is an English proverb, and 
 with Sir William Temple we concur in thinking it a vestige of 
 Scandic superstition, referring to the magical powers ascribed to 
 the Gothic runes. 
 
 Proverbs are, to the vulgar, not merely a sort of metaphysical 
 language, but a kind of substitute for philosophical principles. 
 A man whose mind has been enlarged by education, and who 
 has a complete mastery over the riches of his native language, 
 expresses his ideas in his own words ; and when he refers to 
 any thing beyond the matter under his view glances towards an 
 abstract principle. A vulgar man, on the other hand, uses those 
 proverbial forms which tradition and daily use have made 
 familiar to him ; and when he makes a remark which needs 
 confirmation, he clenches it by a proverb. Thus both, though in a 
 different way, illustrate the observation of Lord Bacon, that — 
 " The nature of man doth extremelye covet to have something 
 fixed and immoveable, and as a Rest and support of the mind." 
 
 •i? w * ■S(' * A * 
 
 On the eternal relations of mankind, and their indestructible 
 passions and feelings, the proverbs of all countries present a
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 striking conformity ; and all that remains for us here is to 
 observe that their number, in relation to any given passion or 
 propensity, will be found in proportion to the depth of feeling 
 which is excited by its exercise, and the degree in which it is 
 under human control and management. 
 
 The author has digested his book into commonplaces, and, 
 looking to the head of " Old Age," we find only three or four 
 ideas comprehended under it. Age is considered with respect to 
 marriage— to poverty — to feebleness, and consequent caution 
 induced thereby — to its effects on the mind, — and the feelings of, 
 and palliation for, a woman who marries an old fellow, are glanced 
 at. If the collection be perfect on this head, then these, it seems, 
 are all the ideas which are really found of daily use in the practice 
 of Scottish human life. It might be amusing to compare these few 
 ideas with the train of thinking pursued in a philosophical 
 treatise on old age, — Cicero, for example, — and to place in 
 opposition the reflections of a contemplative and highly 
 cultivated intellect with the few practical hints floating in the 
 common mind. 
 
 In the proverbs ranged under the name of the Deity, it is 
 delightful to see the views that are entertained of his providence 
 and merciful forbearance. There is nothing of the Jewish 
 notions of vengefulness here. God trusts every man with the 
 care of his ain soitl, is a religious maxim evidently of Reform 
 origin. God is kind to f on folk and bairns. When they fall they 
 do not hurt themselves. Such are the homely instances adduced 
 of the goodness of the Deity. 
 
 Looking at the proverbs arranged under the different heads, 
 as illustrative of those qualities that go to the formation of 
 national character, we believe every one must be struck by the 
 caution, shrewdness, penetration, humour, and frequently, wit, of
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 many of the observations, and the constant stream of good sense 
 that runs through them, and feel respect for the individuals who 
 would make this manual, and the maxims which it contains, the 
 guide 01 their practice. Under the head of " Bairns " there are 
 remarks on education, on natural propensities, and on parental 
 iadulgence, of which many volumes that have been written are 
 only amplifications. Under " Gluttony," we have remarks on 
 dietetics ; and under ■' Drinking," on intoxication, &c., which 
 are, in fact, the text and germ of many volumes. As a national 
 characteristic, however, we think it may be safely laid down, 
 froni a perusal of this work, that for every time a Scot speaks of 
 eating, he thinks thrice of his drink. 
 
 It is worthy of remark, that we have nothing almost of politics, 
 and as little directly, unless a satirical hit, of religion. 
 Perhaps both the one and the other may have been considered 
 too much out of the way of folk who found themselves busied, 
 and more profitably occupied with their own callings than with 
 matters which they could not well understand or easily control. 
 * * * * * * * 
 
 The proverbs clustered under the horns of that venerable 
 antiquity, the Devil, are certainly not the least amusing in the 
 book. Of his external appearance, we have nothing but his 
 notable attribute of horns, which he has enjoyed as long as King 
 Arthur. His inner man is, however, very fully depicted. He 
 hates holy water, is subject to God — greedy, active, over-reaching 
 — sometimes a simpleton, and occasionally a satirist, for nothing 
 more bitter was ever uttered by an unsuccessful litigant against 
 our Supreme Court of Judicature, than the saying fathered upon 
 him, and at one period its very truth constituted its extreme 
 pungency — Hame is hamely, quo' the Deil, when he /and himsell 
 in the Court of Session. * *^ * * *
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 The domestic habits of a people are best known by their 
 proverbs. We regret to perceive that when we apply this rule to 
 ourselves, the Scots cannot boast of much cleanliness. Under 
 the head of " Dirt," there appear no less than fifteen sayings, one 
 half of which at least have been contrived to excuse filthiness. 
 It is curious to notice the different feelings which are appealed 
 to in behalf of personal and domestic slovenliness and nastiness. 
 Republican feelings are appealed to in Dh-t c'cfies the king I 
 covetous propensities and superstitious conceits are conciliated in 
 Dirt bodes luck, — fears of personal safety are soothed in The ir.aii- 
 dirt the less hitrt ; and to wind up the climax, our notions of 
 individual comfort are rather startlingly excited by the announce- 
 ment — The clartier the cosier I * *^ * We suspect 
 the filthy domestic habits of the Scots were not improved by 
 their long intercourse with the French, certainly the nastiest 
 of civilised people. 
 
 In glancing over this volume, we find no allusion to literary 
 tastes or to books ; but in the saying, Out of Da^'y Lindsay into 
 Wallace^ the interesting fact is handed down to us of the 
 popularity of the works of Lindsay and Henry the Minstrel ; 
 and, indeed, Kelly says that both were commonly read in the 
 schools. In Kelly, too, we have an illusion to an early almanac 
 monger, — Buchanan s Almanack^ lang foid and langfair^ which 
 description will still apply well to the penny almanacs of 
 Aberdeen. The singular reputation in which the noble poem 
 of Blind Harry, and writings of Sir David Lindsay v/ere held by 
 the populace of Scotland, is further confirmed by the sayings 
 which, in the country, we hear every day, when incredulity is 
 wished to be expressed. Ye'' II no find that in Dazy Lindsay ; or. 
 There'' s no sic a word in a' JVallace. 
 
 While referring to the historic poem of Blind Harry, it
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 reminds us that his hero, in some of the most striking passages 
 of his eventful career, made a happy use of proverbialisms. At 
 the field of Falkirk, Wallace addressed his army in these 
 laconic terms ; " I haif brocht ye to the ring ; hop gif ye can :" 
 a proverbial expression which we believe is stiil in common use. 
 Connected with the name of Wallace, we have another proverb, 
 alluded to in " Langloft's Chronicle," which we quote, as fixing 
 its antiquity to a certain extent. — It falUs in his eighe that hewes 
 ov.cr hie with the Walays. The same, under a slight verbal 
 change, occurs in Ferguson's collection. — He that heivcs owcr hie 
 the spail will fall in his ee. 
 
 Some exceedingly interesting changes in the condition of 
 society, the domestic economy of our ancestors, and references 
 to historical events, are preserved in these laconisms, to which 
 we would most v/illingly allude, were it not that our observations 
 have already extended far beyond our limits. A number of 
 proverbs seem to have taken their rise from some striking charac- 
 teristics of distinguished families, while others, from being their 
 favourite maxims, have become general throughout the country. 
 The noble and potent family of Douglas had ever a relish for these 
 homely saws, and in Hume of Godscroft's histor}-, no inconsider- 
 able number may be picked up. Better hear the laverock whistle 
 than the mouse cheep, was a favourite maxim of the Douglasses, and 
 its interpretation appears to correspond with the English one of 
 Better a castle of hones than of stones* One proverb alludes to 
 
 * " It was early discovered that the English surpass their neighbours in 
 the arts of assaulting or defending fortified places. The policy of the 
 Scottish, therefore, deterred them from erecting upon the borders buildings 
 of such extent and strength, as, being once taken by the foe, would have 
 been capable of receiving a permanent garrison. To themselves, the woods 
 and hills of their native country- were pointed out by the great Eruce as their
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 our long Stewart dynasty of Kings, Ye re no a sib to the king 
 though your name he Stewart ; and the melancholy regret of 
 deep-rooted attachment to the exiled family, is forcibly brought 
 out in this impressive moral reflection, Every thing has its time 
 and sae had ki?igs of Stewart line. Even James the Sixth, whose 
 passion for witchcraft was as noted as his claims to distinction 
 for kingcraft, has, from this circumstance, given rise to the 
 proverb — Peace gae wp ye, as King Jamie said to his hounds.*' 
 Many proverbs acquire importance from the circumstances 
 under which they have been applied. Of this sort is the one Ye 
 have said weel, but wha will bell the cat? and which conferred on 
 Archibald, sixth earl of Angus, the souhricpiet of '• Bell the Cat.'''' 
 At the raid of Ruthven, when James the Sixth was surprised by 
 the Master of Glamis, and was resenting the indignity offered by 
 that party to his person, the Master turned round upon him 
 with the proverb— ^i?/'^t'r bairns greet than bearded men. James 
 had a vast liking for proverbs, and they were ever in his mouth ; 
 and the one which he used — Diet tak me but like is an ill marky 
 acquires importance from the story connected with it.f 
 
 safest bulwarks ; and the maxim of the Douglasses, ' that it was better to 
 hear the lark sing than the mouse cheep' was adopted by every border 
 c\)\q(." —Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border. Introduction, p. Ixxii. 
 
 • It is applied by a mother to a troublesome cluster of little urchins 
 when she gets them soothed and turned out of doors to amuse themselves. 
 
 t " A report is handed down that Lord Gowrie's brother received from 
 the queen a ribband which she had got from the king, that Mr. Alexander 
 went into the king's garden at Falkland on a sultr>- hot day, and lay down 
 in a shade and fell asleep. His breast being open, the king past that way 
 and discovered part of the ribband about his neck below his gravat, upon 
 which he made quick haste into the palace, which was observed by one of 
 the queen's ladies who past the same way. She instantly took the ribband
 
 PREFACE. xxiii 
 
 The present collection of Scottish proverbs is more ample 
 than any that has preceded it. Without stickling at what 
 niay be strictly denominated the indigenous proverbs, Mr. Hen- 
 derson has, very properly, we think, taken a wider latitude, and 
 published all that circulated among his countrymen, whether 
 exotic or of home growth. The currency and general use of the 
 proverb are indeed the only things which ought to be attended 
 to in gathering the proverbs of a people at a particular 
 period. A careful perural of early history and poetry, we 
 believe, would have largely increased the stock of our national 
 adages ; but as many of these have fallen aside through the lapse 
 of time, they could not well be revived in a work which professes 
 to confine itself to those in present use. ***** 
 
 We believe the candid reader will receive the volume in 
 the same spirit as that which animated the Son of Sirach when 
 he gave utterance to this advice — Despise not the discoveries 
 OF the wise, but acquaint thyself with their Proverbs, 
 
 FOR OF THEM THOU SHALT LEARN INSTRUCTION. 
 
 from his neck, went a nearer way to the queen's closet, where she found her 
 majesty at her toilet, whom she requested immediately to lay the ribband in 
 a drawer : she quickly retired, telling her majesty that she would presently 
 see reason for it ; in a short time the king came in, and demanded a sight of 
 the ribband he had lately given her. Her majesty opened the drawer, and 
 presented the ribband to him, which, when he had attentively considered 
 he delivered to her majesty, and retired, muttering these words, Ddltakir.e 
 but LIKE is an ill mark^' — Muses Thrcnodie. 
 
 VV. M. 
 
 Glasgow, 30//^ April, 1832.
 
 SCOTTISH PROVERBS, 
 
 Age. 
 
 An auld man's a bedfa' o' banes. 
 
 Auld age and marriage bring a man to his night-cap. 
 
 Auld folk are twice bairns. 
 
 Eild and pourtith are ill companions. 
 
 Eild and pourtith are ill to thole. 
 
 Eild and pourtith are a sair burden for ae back. 
 
 Eild should hae honour. 
 
 Haud your feet, Lucky Dad, auld fouk 's no fiery. 
 [Mind your feet, grandfather, old people are not nimble. j 
 
 He 's auld and cauld. and ill to lie aside. 
 
 There "s beild beneath an auld man's beard. 
 
 Anger. 
 A hasty man is never lusty. 
 A hasty man never wanted wae. 
 Anger begins wi' folly, and ends wi' repentance. 
 Anger canna stand without a strong hand. 
 Anger is the fever and frenzy of the soul. 
 Anger 's mair hurtfu' than the wrang that caused it. 
 Anger 's short lived in a gude man. 
 Anger maks a rich man hated, and a poor man scorned, 
 Ji
 
 SCOTTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 Anger may glance into the breast o' a wise man, but only rests 
 
 i' the bosom o' a fool. 
 
 Anger punishes itsel'. 
 
 He 's ne'er at ease that 's angry. 
 
 He should be seindle angry that has few to mease him. 
 
 He that's angry opens his mouth and steeks his een, 
 
 [The angry man speaks unadvisedly, without investigating the matter.] 
 
 He that will be angry for ony thing, will be angry for naething. 
 Rage is without reason. 
 
 Twa things ne'er be angry wi', — what ye can help, and what ye* 
 canna help. 
 
 Avarice. 
 
 Avarice generally miscalculates, and as generally deceives. 
 He wad fley a louse for its skin. 
 He wad gang a mile to flit a sow. 
 He wad rake hell for a bodle. 
 
 Mony ane for land, taks a fool by the hand- 
 [Many marry for money.] 
 
 Ne'er let your gear ourgang you. 
 [Pride not yourself in your riches ] 
 
 Bairns. 
 
 Bairns are certain care but nae sma' joy. 
 
 Bairns maun creep ere they gang. 
 
 [Those who don't succeed very well at first may do better aftenvaid? 
 
 Bairns speak in the field what they hear by the fireside. 
 
 Between three and thirteen, thraw the wcodie when it's green. 
 [Youth is the time for training.] 
 
 Dawted bairns dow bear little. 
 
 Early crook the tree that gude crummock wad be. 
 [This has the same application as the second above.] 
 
 Fair in the cradle may be foul in ihe saddle. 
 
 Falkirk bairns mind naething but mischief.
 
 BEAUTY. 
 
 Falkirk bairns die ere they thrive. 
 
 [Why these two proverbs should be applied to Falkirk is probably un- 
 known. The Falkirk people call themselves " the bairns " or natives 
 of Falkirk.] 
 
 Gie a bairn his will and a whelp its fill, and neither will do 
 
 weel. 
 He's a wise bairn that kens his ain father. 
 Ill bairns are aye getting broken brows. 
 Ill bairns are best heard at hame. 
 Mony ane kisses the bairn for love o' the nurse. 
 Of bairns' gifts ne'er be fain : nae sooner they gie than they 
 
 seek it again. 
 
 Put anither man's bairn in your bosom, and he '11 creep out at 
 
 your sleeve. 
 [Though you cherish another man's child, he will have no natural aftec 
 tion towards you.] 
 
 Silly bairns are eith o' lear. 
 
 We can shape our bairns' wyliecoat, but canna shape their weird 
 [We can shape our children's clothes, but not their fate.] 
 
 When bairns are young they gar their parents' heads ache 
 
 when they are auld they mak their hearts ache. 
 
 Beauty. 
 
 A bonnie bride's soon buskit. 
 
 [For her beauty requires little adornment.] 
 
 A bonnie face needs nae band, an ill ane deserves nane. 
 \_Band, a ribbon.] 
 
 A fair face and a foul bargain. 
 
 A fair face is half a fortune. 
 
 Beauty but bounty availeth nothing. 
 
 [Beauty without goodness is of little worth.] 
 
 Beauty draws mair than oxen. 
 
 Beauty 's a fair but a fading flower. 
 
 Beauty 's muck when honour's tint. 
 
 [Beauty is of no value when honour is lost.] 
 Beauty 's only skin deep.
 
 SCOTTISH PROVERBS. 
 
 Beauty without virtue 's like poison in a gowd box. 
 
 Fair maidens wear nae purses. 
 
 [Young women are not permitted to pay their share of the reckoning ; 
 the young men pay for them.] 
 
 There 's beauty without paint, quo' the dcil, when he saw the 
 
 black man. 
 
 Beggary. 
 
 Beggars breed, and rich men feed. 
 
 Beggars downa bide wealth. 
 
 Beggars shouldna be choosers. 
 
 Beg frae beggars, ye '11 ne'er be rich. 
 
 Gie a beggar a bed, and he '11 pay you wi' a louse. 
 
 He that seeks awms for Godsake, begs for twa. 
 
 Set a beggar on horseback, and he '11 ride to the deil. 
 
 Blindness. 
 A blind man has nae need o' a looking-glass, 
 A blind man 's nae judge o' colours. 
 A blind man's wife needs nae painting. 
 A nod 's as gude as a wink to a blind horse. 
 He 's blind that eats marrow, but far blinder that lets him. 
 The blind mare is first in the mire. 
 
 Boasting. 
 
 A' the corn 's no shorn by kempers. 
 
 [All the work is not done by those who e.xcel at it.] 
 
 A man may spit in his loof and do but little. 
 [May make a show of working.] 
 
 A vaunter and a liar are muckle about ae thing. 
 [Are much the same.] 
 
 Cripples are aye great doers ; break your leg and try. 
 [The first is an assertion ; the second is a re])ly to it ] 
 
 M\k nae toom ruse. 
 
 Bestow no empty praise.]
 
 CAUSE AND EFFECT. 5 
 
 Breeding. 
 A weel bred dog gaes out when he sees them preparing to kick 
 
 him out. 
 Birth's gude but breeding's better. 
 Dogs bark as they are bred. 
 Gude breeding and siller mak our sons gentlemen. 
 
 Butter. 
 
 Butter and burn trouts are kittle meat for maidens. 
 
 Butter is gowd i' the morning, siller at noon, and copper at 
 
 night. 
 
 Butter is the king o' a' creesh. 
 
 Butter to butter 's nae kitchen. 
 
 Fry stanes \vi' butter, and the broo will be gude. 
 
 He that has routh o' butter may lay it the thicker on his bread. 
 
 Like Orkney butter, neither gude to eat nor to creesh woo. 
 [That is, of no use at all.] 
 
 Care. 
 
 A pund o' care winna pay an ounce o' debt. 
 [' Care' here means ' trouble of mind.'] 
 
 Care will kill a cat, and she has nine lives. 
 
 Little gear, less care. 
 
 Cause and Effect. 
 
 A crooked stick will throw a crooked shadow. 
 
 A few flittins are as bad as ae burning. 
 
 A green Yule maks a fat kirk-yard. 
 
 A gude hairst maks men prodigal, and a bad ane provident. 
 
 A light-heeled mither maks a leaden-heeled dochter. 
 
 A rowing stane gathers nae fog. 
 
 A slow fire maks sweet maut.
 
 SCO TTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 As the sow fills the draff sours. 
 
 [As the stomach fills food loses its relish,] 
 
 He that gets gear before he gets wit is but a short time master 
 
 o' it. 
 
 I ken by my cog when my cow 's milket. 
 
 Muckle reek, some heat. 
 
 Nae whip cuts sae sharp as the lash o' conscience. 
 
 Saw thin, maw thin. 
 
 There 's a3-e some water where the stirkie drowns. 
 
 There 's nae reek, but there 's some heat. 
 
 They that work i' the mill maun wear the livery. 
 
 When the wtII 's fou it v/ill rin ower. 
 
 When you see a woman paint, your heart needna faint. 
 
 Yelping curs will raise mastiffs. 
 
 Caution. 
 
 Better greet ower your gudes than after your gudes. 
 
 Canny stretch, soon reach. 
 
 Cawk is nae shears. 
 
 [From the tailor's marking out his cloth with chalk before he cuts it. 
 It does not follow that a plan laid out will be executed.] 
 
 Haud the hank in your ain hand. 
 
 He needs a lang shanket spoon that sups kail wi' the deil. 
 
 [Those that have to do with wicked men require to be on their guard.j 
 
 He that has but ae ee, maun tent it week 
 
 If you dinna see the bottom, dinna wade. 
 
 [Don't venture upon an undertaking which you can't see your way 
 through.] 
 
 It 's no safe wading in unco waters. 
 
 Leave the court ere the court leave you, 
 
 Measure twice, cut but ance. 
 
 Ne'er misca' a Gordon in the raws o' Strathbogie. 
 
 [Strathbogie was the district of the Gordons, Never speak ill of a man 
 on his own groimd.] 
 
 Ne'er put a sword in a wud man's hand.
 
 COMPARISON. 
 
 Ne'er put your hand farer out than your sleeve will reach. 
 [Spend no more than you can afford.] 
 
 Ne'er say ' ill fallow ' to him you deal wi'. 
 [' III fallow ' bad fellow.] 
 
 Ne'er trust muckle to an auld enemy, nor a new friend. 
 
 Silence and thoughts hurt nae man. 
 
 Tak care o' an ox before, an ass behind, and a monk on all 
 
 sides. 
 
 Tell not your fae when your foot sleeps. 
 
 Charity. 
 
 Charity begins at hame, but shouldna end there. 
 Charity ne'er made a man poor, nor robbery rich, nor pros- 
 perity wise. 
 Giving to the poor increaseth a man's store. 
 Spend, and God will send ; spare, and be bare. 
 
 Cleanliness. 
 
 ' A clean thing's kindly,' quo' the wife, when she turned her 
 
 sark, after a month's wear. 
 Cleanliness is nae pride, dirt 's nae honesty. 
 Let ilka ane soop before their ain door. 
 
 Comparison. 
 
 Blue, and better blue. 
 
 [There may be a difference between things of the same kind, and 
 between persons of the same station.] 
 
 Like draws to like, as an auld horse to a fail dyke. 
 
 Little odds between a feast and a fou wame. 
 
 Much about a pitch, quo' the deil to the witch. 
 
 Muckle about ane, as the deil said to the collier.
 
 SCO TTISII PR 1 'ERBS. 
 
 Contentment. 
 
 A man's weel or wae, as he thinks himsei sae. 
 
 A man's greatest wealth is contentment wi' little. 
 
 Ane at a time is gude fishing. 
 
 Contentment is a constant feast. 
 
 Hap and a ha'penny, is world's gear aneugh. 
 
 Let ilka ane be content wi' his ain kavel. 
 
 O' a little tak a littl») and leave a little behin. 
 
 O' a little tak a little ; when there 's nought, tak a'. 
 
 We maun tak the crap as it grows. 
 
 Courage. 
 
 A courageous foe is better than a cowardly friend. 
 
 A faint heart never won a fair lady. 
 
 A man's aye crouse in his ain cause. 
 
 A wight man never wanted a weapon. 
 
 Courage against misfortune, and reason against passion. 
 
 Fortune favours the brave. 
 
 Fortune helps the hardy, and the poltroon aye repels. 
 
 Naething sae bauld as a blind mare. 
 
 Naething sae crouse as a new washen louse. 
 
 [Those who have been ragged and dirty are proud of new or clean 
 clothes.] 
 
 The cock's aye crouse on his ain midden head. 
 Courtship. 
 
 A flyer wad aye hae a follower. 
 
 [Said of a girl running from a young man on "purpose that he should 
 follow her.] 
 
 Glowering is nae gainsaying. 
 
 Happy is the wooing that 's no lang o' doing. 
 
 He courts for cake and pudding. 
 
 He that woos a maiden maun come seldom in her sight ; 
 
 — He that woos a widow maun ply her day and night.
 
 CREDIT. 
 
 Light maidens mak langing lads. 
 
 Nipping and scarting is Scotch folks' wooing. 
 
 Sunday's wooing draws to ruin. 
 
 The lass that has mony wooers aften wails the warst. 
 
 Wha may woo without cost ? 
 
 When petticoats woo, breeks may come speed. 
 [Said when maids court young men.] 
 
 COVETOUSNESS. 
 
 A covetous man does naething that he should do, till he dies. 
 
 A covetous man is gude to nane, but warst to himsel. 
 
 A covetous man's like a turnspit dog — roasts meat for ithers. 
 
 A covetous man lives in dread, and dies wretched. 
 
 Covetousness brings naething hame. 
 
 Covetousness often starves other vices. 
 
 Cowardice. 
 
 A coward's nae company. 
 
 A coward's fear maks a coward brave. 
 
 A man may spit in his nieve and do but little. 
 
 A wee thing fleys a coward. 
 
 He's mair fleyed than hurt. 
 
 His heart's in his hose. 
 
 Put a coward to his mettle, and he'll fight wi' the deil. 
 
 To fazarts (cowards) hard hazards is death ere they come near. 
 
 Credit. 
 
 Credit is better than ill won gear. 
 
 Credit keeps the crown o' the causey. 
 
 Credit lost is like a broken glass. 
 
 He wha's lost his credit is dead to the warld. 
 
 They that hae maist need o' credit seldom get muckle.
 
 I o SCO TTISH PR VERES. 
 
 Cunning. 
 
 A' are no friends that speak us fair. 
 
 A crafty man's ne'er at peace. 
 
 Craft maun hae claes, but truth gacs naked. 
 
 He can haud the cat and play wi' the kitten. 
 
 He can haud the cat in the sun. 
 
 He can say, My jo, and think it no, 
 
 [He can pretend to be kind without being so.] 
 
 He's no sae daft as he lets on. 
 
 He kens how mony beans mak five. 
 [He can look after his own interests.] 
 
 He kens how to butter a whitten. 
 
 He kens which side his bannock's buttered on. 
 [The three preceding have the same meaning.] 
 
 He snoits his nose in his neighbour's cog, to get the brose him- 
 
 sel. 
 
 His e'ening sang and his morning sang are no baith alike. 
 
 The peasweep aye cries farest frae its ain nest. 
 
 They that see your head see not a' your height. 
 [Said to men of low stature and high spirits.] 
 
 You wad wheedle a laverock frae the lift. 
 
 Death. 
 
 A dry cough is the trumpeter o' death. 
 
 Death and marriage break term-days. 
 
 Death comes in and speirs nae questions. 
 
 Death defies the doctor. 
 
 Death is deaf, and will hear nae denial. 
 
 He wha's poor when he's married, shall be rich when he's 
 
 buried. 
 The death o' ae bairn winna skail a house. 
 There's remede for a' thing, but stark dead.
 
 DEVIL. II 
 
 Debt. 
 
 A poor man's debt males muckle noise. 
 
 A, pound o' care winna pay an ounce o' debt. 
 
 Better auld debts than auld sairs. 
 
 [The debts may come in, but the sores will ache.] 
 
 He wha pays his debt begins to make a stock. 
 
 Out o' debt, out o' danger. 
 
 Sins and debts are aye mair than -we think them. 
 
 The less debt the ma'e dainties. 
 
 Delay. 
 
 Delays are dangerous. 
 
 Delay not till to-morro\v what may be done to-day. 
 
 There 's naething got by delay, but dirt and lang nails. 
 
 Destiny. 
 
 A man may woo wha he will, but must wed whare he 's weird. 
 
 Flee as fast as you will, your fortune will be at your tail. 
 
 Hanging gaes by hap. 
 
 He that 's born to be hanged will never be drowned. 
 
 It was my luck, my lady, and I canna get by it. 
 
 Nae butter will stick to my bread. 
 [No good fortune comes my way.] 
 
 Nae fleeing frae fate. 
 
 Some hae hap, and some stick in the gap. 
 
 The water will ne'er waur the widdie. 
 [The water will never cheat the gallows.] 
 
 Devil. 
 
 If that God give, the deil daurna reave. 
 
 I like him as the deil likes holy water. 
 
 It's curly and crookit, as the deil said o' his horns. 
 
 Speak o' ony body but the deil and he'll appear.
 
 SCO TJISH PR VERBS. 
 
 Speak o' the deil and he'll appear. 
 
 [Said when the person we have been speaking of happens to come in.] 
 
 The deil and the dean begin wi' ae letter : 
 
 — When the deil gets the dean, the kirk will be the better. 
 
 The deil aye drives his hogs to an ill market. 
 
 The deil bides his day. 
 
 The deil gaes awa when he finds the door steeket against him. 
 
 The deil 's a busy bishop in his ain diocese. 
 
 The deil 's aye gude to his ain. 
 
 The deil 's gane ower Jock \Yabsler. 
 
 The deil 's nae waur than he's ca'd. 
 
 [Said to those who speak worse of a bad man than he deserves.] 
 
 The deil's bairns hae aye their daddy's luck. 
 
 [Said maliciously when we observe the prosperity of those we esteem 
 not.] 
 
 The deil's cow calves twice a-year. 
 
 The devil was sick, and the devil a monk would be ; 
 
 — The devil got well, and the devil a monk was he. 
 
 [Those who make good resolutions in time of trouble often forget them in 
 prosperity.] 
 
 They need a lang shanket spoon that sup kail wi' the deil. 
 [See the fifth under Caution, page 6.] 
 
 To craw and to scrape weel is the deil's trade. 
 
 When the man is fire, and the wife is tow ; 
 
 — The deil comes in and blaws 't in lowe. 
 
 Diffidence. 
 
 A blate cat maks a proud mouse, 
 
 [Lax discipline is apt to be taken advantage of.] 
 
 Diffidence is the mother o' safety. 
 
 He that spares to speak, spares to speed. 
 
 [He that hesitates to speak on his own behalf when occasion offers will 
 not readily improve his position.] 
 
 Mony an honest man needs help, that hasna the face to seek it.
 
 DR UNKENNESS. i ^ 
 
 Dirt. 
 
 Cleanliness is nac pride, dirt is nae honesty. 
 
 Dirt bodes luck. 
 
 Dirt defies the king. 
 
 Dirt parts gude companie. 
 
 [Said when unwelcome persons join a company.] 
 
 He's a dirty tod that fyles his ain hole. 
 
 He that deals in dirt has aye foul fingers. 
 
 Kamesters are aye creeshy. 
 
 ' Lang straes are nae motes, ' quo' the wife, when ~^]ic hauled the 
 
 cat out o' the kirn. 
 Standing dubs gather dirt. 
 The clartier the cosier. 
 
 The fish that's bred in a dirty puddle will aye taste o' mud. 
 The mair dirt, the less hurt. 
 
 The tod, though stinking, keeps aye his ain hole clean. 
 'There's a mote in't, ' quo' the man, when he swallowed the 
 
 dish-clout. 
 Though she"s dirty, she's dry, like the man's wife. 
 Ve may wash aff dirt, but never dun hide. 
 
 Dress. 
 
 Bonnie feathers mak bonnie birds. 
 Gude claes open a' doors. 
 
 You 're as braw as Sinks' wife, when she bcckct to the minister, 
 wi' the dish-clout on her head. 
 
 Drunkenness. 
 A red nose maks a ragged back. 
 Double drinks afe gude for drouth. 
 Draff he sought, but drink was his errand.
 
 1 4 SCO 7 TISH PR VERBS. 
 
 Drink and drouth come scindle thegither. 
 
 Drink little, that ye may drink lang. 
 
 Drunk at night and dry next morning. 
 
 Drunk folk seldom take harm. 
 
 Fair fa' gude drink, for it gars folk speak as they think. 
 
 He has a hole aneath his nose, that winna let his back be rough. 
 [' Rough, ' covered with clothing.] 
 
 He's waur to water than to corn. 
 [Fonder of drink than of his food.] 
 
 He speaks in his drink what he thinks in his drouth. 
 
 Laith to drink, and laith frae it. 
 
 [UnwilUng and slow to begin, but once begun, equally so to leave off.] 
 
 Ne'er let the nose blush for the sins o' the mouth. 
 
 Our fathers, who were wondrous wise, 
 
 — Did wash their throats before they washed their eyes. 
 
 Tak a hair o' the dog that bit you yestreen. 
 
 [One suffering from the effect of the pre%'ious night's drinking is 
 recommended to take a little more to cure him.] 
 
 The accommodation bill trade, 
 
 — Connected wi' the gill trade, 
 
 — Aye turns out an ill trade. — \V. Reid. 
 
 The maut's aboon the meal. 
 [There's more drink than food.] 
 
 The smith has aye a spark in his throat. 
 
 ' Wha can help sickness, ' quo' the v.-ife, when she lay drunk in 
 
 the gutter. 
 What soberness conceals, drunkenness reveals. 
 What you do when you 're drunk, you must pay for when you 're 
 
 sober. 
 When drink 's in, wit 's out. 
 When wine sinks, words soom. 
 Ve hae been smelling the bung.
 
 ECONOMY. IS 
 
 Early Rising. 
 
 Early birds catch the worms. 
 
 Gang to bed wi' the lamb, and rise wi' the laverock. 
 He that wad thrive, must rise by five ; 
 — He that has thriven, may lie till seven. 
 They maun be up sune that cheat the tod. 
 They that rise with the sun, hae their work weel begun. 
 They wha are early up and hae nae business, hae either an ill 
 bed, an ill wife, or an ill conscience. 
 
 Eating. 
 
 Eat in measure, and defy the doctor. 
 
 Eating needs but a beginning. 
 
 Eating and cleaning only require a beginning. 
 
 Eating and drinking puts awa the stamach. 
 
 Eat peas wi' a prince, and cherries wi' a chapman. 
 
 ["Peas are best when young, and cherries when ripe," — Kelly-' s 
 Scottish Proverbs. '\ 
 
 Eat your fill, but pouch nane. 
 
 Eat-weel 's drink-weel's brither. 
 
 Live not to eat, but eat to live. 
 
 There's a difference between fen and fare weel. 
 [Between shifting for a meal and faring well.] 
 
 Economy. 
 
 A penny hained 's a penny gained. 
 
 A penny hained 's a penny clear, and a preen a-day 's a groat 
 
 a-year. 
 
 Better hain weel than work sair. 
 
 Better lang little, than soon naething. 
 
 E'ening orts are gude morning's fother. 
 
 [What is despised to-day may be valued to-morrow,] 
 
 Frae saving comes having.
 
 1 6 SCO T7ISII PR VERBS. 
 
 Haud in gear helps weel. 
 
 He that hains his dinner will hae the malr to his supper. 
 
 If he binds the pock, she'll sit doon on 't. 
 
 [Said when a niggardly man is married to a more niggardly wife] 
 
 It's easier to bigg twa chimleys than keep twa in coals. 
 
 It's easier to bigg lums than to keep them reeking. 
 
 It's weel won that's won aff the wame. 
 
 Kail hains bread. 
 
 Keep a thing seven years, and yoirll find a use for it. 
 
 Ken when to spend, and when to spare, and when to buy, and 
 
 you'll ne'er be bare. 
 
 Lang fasting hains nae bread. 
 
 Lay a thing by and it will come o' use. 
 
 Lay your wame to your winning. 
 
 [Let not your household expenditure exceed your income] 
 
 Mak nae orts o' gude hay. 
 
 Placks and bawbees grow pounds. 
 
 Spare weel and hae weel. 
 
 Spend not when yon may save, save not when you may spend. 
 
 Want not, waste not. 
 
 Wha winna keep a penny will never hae any. 
 
 Wide will wear, but tight will tear. 
 
 i:nvy. 
 
 Envy is cured by true friendship, as coquetry is by true love. 
 Envy is the rack of the soul, and torture of the body. 
 Envy ne'er does a gude turn, but Mhcn it means ftn ill ane. 
 
 Evil. 
 
 Of ae' ill come mony. 
 
 Of ill debtors men get aiths. 
 
 Of twa ills choose the least.
 
 EVIL CONDUCT. 17 
 
 Evil Company. 
 Gude company on a journey is worth a coach. 
 He keeps his road weel eneugh, wha gets rid o' ill company. 
 Ill council will gar a man stick his ain mare. 
 
 Keep out o' his company, wha cracks o' his cheatery. 
 [Who talks of his cheating or cunning.] 
 
 Tell me the company you keep, and I '11 tell you your character. 
 
 ' Wae worth ill company,' quo' the kae o' Camb 'snethan. 
 
 [" Spoken when we have been drawn by ill company into an ill thing. 
 A jack. daw in Camnethen learned this word from a guest in the 
 house when he was upon his penitentials after hard drinking." — 
 Keiiys Scottish Proverbs. '\ 
 
 Evil Conduct. 
 
 A libertine life is not a life of liberty. 
 Do weel and hae weel. 
 
 He that hath and winna keep it ; 
 
 He that wants and winna seek it ; 
 
 He that drinks and is not dry ; 
 
 Siller shall want as weel as I. 
 
 He that ill does, never gude weens. 
 [Never thinks any good of others.] 
 
 He wha mair than he's worth doth spend, 
 
 Perhaps a rape his life will end. 
 Never do ill that gude may come o 't. 
 There 's naething but mends for misdeeds. 
 
 When I did weel I heard it never. 
 
 When I did ill I heard it ever. 
 ["A reflection of servants upon hard and passionate masters, who are 
 liberal in their reproofs but sparing in their commendations." — 
 Kelly's Scottish Proverbs,'] 
 
 Your conduct will gar you claw a beggar's haffet yet. 
 [Will reduce you to beggary.]
 
 1 8 SCO TTISII PR VERBS. 
 
 Evil Disposition. 
 
 An ill-willie cow should hae short horns. 
 
 [Ill natured people should not have much authority, for they are sure to 
 abuse it.] 
 
 Buy a thief frae the widdie, and he '11 cut your throat. 
 
 He that does you an ill turn will ne'er forgie you. 
 
 He that's cankert without a cause, maun mease without amends. 
 
 He that strikes my dog, wad strike mysel if he durst. 
 
 If a man's gaun doun the brae, ilka ane gies him a jundie. 
 
 Ill doers are aye ill dreaders. 
 
 Like the cur in the crib, neither do nor let do. 
 
 Say what you will, an ill mind will turn 't to ill. 
 
 The tod's whalps are ill to tame. 
 
 The toolyeing tyke comes limping hame. 
 
 Ye 're like the witches, ye can do nae gude to yoursel. 
 
 Evil Example. 
 
 If ae sheep loup ower the dike, a' the lave will follow. 
 
 If the laird slight the lady, sae will the kitchen boy. 
 
 If a mare hae a bald face, the filly will hae a blaze. 
 
 If you gang a year wi' a cripple, you '11 limp at the end o 't. 
 
 Evil Speaking. 
 
 A gossip speaks ill o' a', and a' o' her, 
 
 Gie your tongue mair holidays than your head. 
 
 He that has gall in his mouth canna spit honey. 
 
 He that speaks what he should not will hear what he would 
 
 not. 
 Ill never speaks well. 
 It's a gude tongue that says nae ill, but a better heart that 
 
 thinks nane. 
 Ne'er speak ill o' the dead.
 
 EXTREMES, 19 
 
 Ne'er speak ill o' them whase bread ye eat. 
 
 Sometimes words cut mair than swords. 
 
 Your tongue is nae scandal. 
 
 [Because nobody believes you when you speak ill of any one.] 
 
 Evil Wishing. 
 
 I wish it may come through you like tags o' skate. 
 
 I wish you the gude o't that the dogs get o' grass. 
 
 I wish you were able, though you didna do 't. 
 
 "We maunna wish the burn dry because it weets our feet. 
 
 Example. 
 
 As the auld cock craws, the young cock learns. 
 Every act is best taught by example. 
 Example goes before precept. 
 
 Experience. 
 
 A man at forty is either a fool or a physician. 
 
 An auld mason maks a gude barrowman. 
 
 Auld dogs bite sicker. 
 
 Burnt bairns dread the fire. 
 
 Experience is gude, but aften dear bought. 
 
 Experience is the mither o' invention. 
 
 Experience is the mither of tool-grinding. 
 
 Experience teaches fools, and fools will learn nae ither way. 
 
 ]f things were to be done twice, ilka ane wad be wise. 
 
 Extremes. 
 
 A' owers are ill, but ower the water and ower the hi J I. 
 Langest at the fireside soonest finds cauld. 
 Like the dam o' Devon, lang gathered and soon gane. 
 ?*Iair than aneugh is ower muckle.
 
 20 SCO TTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 Ower mony grieves only hinder wark, 
 
 Ower muckle dafFin downa. 
 
 Ower muckle o' ae thing is gude for naething. 
 
 Waes unite faes. 
 
 Ye're either a' dirt or a' butter. 
 
 [Equally extreme in fondness and aversion.] 
 
 Ye'er either ower het or ower cauld, like the miller o' Marshach 
 
 Mill. 
 
 Ye'er ower keen o' the clocking, ye'U die on the nest. 
 
 [Said to those who express their liking for a new place or emploj-ment] 
 
 Falsehood. 
 
 Fairest words are fouest o' falsehood. 
 Fause folk should hae mony witnesses. 
 Frost and falsehood hae aye a dirty Wc gang. 
 
 Fame. 
 
 Common fame is often a common liar. 
 
 Common fame is seldom to blame. 
 
 The thing that a'body says maun be true. 
 
 Fear. 
 
 He's mair fleyed than hurt. 
 
 There's nae medicine for fear. 
 
 You're feared for the day you never saw. 
 
 Flattery. 
 A flatterer is a dangerous enemy. 
 Of a' flatterers, self-love is the greatest. 
 Plaster thick and some will stick. 
 \Yhen flatterers meet, the deil gaes to his dinner.
 
 FOLLY. 21 
 
 Folly. 
 
 A fool and his money are soon parted. 
 
 ■A fool at forty will never be wise. 
 
 A fool is mair happy in thinking weel o' himsel, than a wise 
 
 man is of ithers thinking weel o' him. 
 
 A fool may earn money, but it taks a wise man to keep it. 
 
 A fool may find faults that a wise man canna mend. 
 
 A fool may gie a wise man an advice. 
 
 A fool may speir mae questions than a_wise man can answer. 
 
 A fool's bolt is soon shot. 
 
 A' fails that fools think. 
 
 A man at five may be a fool at fifteen. 
 
 A man may speak like a wise man, and act like a fool. 
 
 A nod frae a lord is a breakfast for a fool. 
 
 A rogue detected is the greatest fool. 
 
 Ance wud, and aye waur. 
 
 Ance wud, never wise. 
 
 As the fool thinks, the bell clinks. 
 
 Aye to eild, but never to wit. 
 
 [Ever growing older, but never wiser.] 
 
 Change o' weather finds discourse fcr fools. 
 
 Dogs and bairns are aye fond o' fools. 
 
 Fair hechts mak fools fain. 
 
 Fool's haste is nae speed. 
 
 Fools and bairns shouldna see half done wark. 
 
 Fools mak feasts, and wise men eat them ; 
 
 Wise men mak jests, and fools repeat them. 
 Fools are aye fond o' flittin, and wise men o' sittin. 
 Fools are aye fortunate. 
 Fools are aye seeing ferlies. 
 Fools are fain o' naething.
 
 22 SCO 7 TISII PR VERBS. 
 
 Fools bigg houses, and wise men buy them. 
 
 Fools laugh at their ain sport. 
 
 Fools ravel and wise men redd. 
 
 Fools set far t:y.sts. 
 
 Fools shouldna hae chappin sticks. 
 
 Forbid a fool a thing and that he will do. 
 
 For fault o' wise men fools sit on binks. 
 
 He has some sma' wit, but a fool has the guiding o't. 
 
 He's a fool that asks ower muckle, but he's a greater fool that 
 
 gies it. 
 
 He's no the fool that the fool is, but he that wi' the fool deals. 
 
 He that clatters till himsel cracks to a fool. 
 
 He that taks his gear and gies it to his bairns, 
 
 — Were weel saired to take a mell and ding out his harns. 
 
 ["Taken from the history of one John Bell, who having given his whole 
 substance to his children, was by them neglected ; after he died 
 there was found in his chest a mallet with this inscription — 
 I John Bell leaves here a mell, 
 The man to fell, who gives all 
 To his bairns, and keeps nothing 
 To himsell." — Kelly's Scottish Prm'crhs.'l 
 
 " I'll wad," is a fool's argunient. 
 
 It's folly to live poor and die rich. 
 
 Nae fools like auld fools. 
 
 Send a fool to France, and he'll come a fool back. 
 
 The height o' nonsense is supping sour milk wi' an elsyn. 
 
 Twa fools in ae house is a couple ower mony. 
 
 When the fool finds a horse shoe, he thinks aye the like to do. 
 
 Foresight. 
 
 A steek in time saves nine. 
 
 Canny chiels carry cloaks when its fair, 
 The fool, when its foul, has nane to wear. 
 
 Gude foresight furthers the wark.
 
 FRIENDSHIP. 
 
 He that does his turn in time sits half idle. 
 
 If a man kent what wad be dear, 
 
 He wadna be a merchant for a year. 
 You 're very foresighted, like Forsyth's cat. 
 
 Fortune. 
 
 A lucky man needs little counsel. 
 
 An incli o' gude luck is worth a fathom o' forecast. 
 
 Better be the lucky man than the lucky man's son. 
 
 Flee you ne'er sae fast, your fortune will be at your tail. 
 
 Fortune and futurity are not to be guessed at. 
 
 Fortune can take nothing but what she gave. 
 
 Fortune gains the bride. 
 
 Fortune often lends her smiles as misers do their money — to 
 
 undo their debtor. 
 
 Gie a man luck, and fling him in the sea. 
 
 Mair by luck than gude guiding. 
 
 Put your hand in the creel, tak out an adder or an eel. 
 [Said of taking a wife.] 
 
 The lucky thing gies the gude penny. 
 
 There 's nae fence against ill fortune. 
 
 Twa heads may lie on ae cod, and nane ken whare the luck lies. 
 [" Spoken when either husband or the wife is dead, and the surviving 
 party go«s back in the world after." — Kelly's Scottish Proverbs.'\ 
 
 Friendship. 
 
 A faithful friend Is a strong defence. 
 
 A faithful friend is the medicine of life. 
 
 A father is a treasure, a brither is a comfort, but a friend is 
 
 baith. 
 
 A friend at court is worth a penny in the purse. 
 
 A friend in need is a fiiend indeed. 
 
 A friend's dinner is soon dicht. 
 
 [Because he will be easil\- contented.]
 
 24 SCO TTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 A friend's ne'er kenned till he 's needed. 
 
 A friend to a', is a friend to nane. 
 
 A gude friend is my nearest relation. 
 
 A gude friend is ne'er tint, but an ill ane 's at hand. 
 
 Ae gude friend is worth a' my relations. 
 
 A man may be kind, yet gie little o' his gear. 
 
 A man may see his friend in need. 
 
 That wouldna see his pow bleed. 
 [A man may help his friend when in danger of his hfe, who will not help 
 him in his struggle with poverty and want-] 
 
 Affront your friend in daffin, and tine him in earnest. 
 
 Be slow in choosing a friend, but s''ower in changing him. 
 
 Better a fremit friend, than a friend f remit. 
 
 [Better a stranger for one's friend than a friend who has become a 
 stranger.] 
 
 Better lose your joke, than lose your friend. 
 
 Better my friends think me fremit as fashions. 
 
 [Better that my friends should think me a stranger owing to my infre- 
 quent visits than that they should consider me troublesome through 
 my calling on them too often.] 
 
 Broken friendship may be sowthered, but never sound. 
 
 Buy friendship wi' presents and it will be bought frae you. 
 
 Change your friend ere you hae need. 
 
 Choose your friend amang the wise, and your wile amang the 
 
 virtuous. 
 Fause friends are waur than bitter enemies. 
 Friends are like fiddle-strings, they maunna be screwed ower 
 
 tight. 
 Friends gree best at a distance. 
 Friendship is stronger than kindred. 
 Friendship multiplies our joy, and divides our grief. 
 He that 's no my friend at a pinch, is no worth a snuff. 
 He that thy friend has bene ryt Unge, 
 Suppose sumtyme he do the wrange j
 
 GOD. 25 
 
 Condeme him not, bot aye him meine, 
 For kindness that before has been. 
 Hearts may agree, though heads differ. 
 It 's no tint that a friend gets. 
 Life without a friend is death with a witness. 
 Mony aunts, mony emes, mony kin, but few friends. 
 Mony kinsfolk, but few friends. 
 
 My son is my son until he gets a wife, 
 
 My dochter is my dochter a' the days o' her life. 
 Nae friend like the penny- 
 
 Nae man can be happy without a friend, — nor be sure of him 
 until he 's unhappy. 
 
 Quhen welth aboundis, mony friends we number : 
 
 Quhen guidis dekay, then friends flie away. 
 
 Suffering for a friend doubleth friendship. 
 
 Try your friend before you hae need o' him. 
 
 When friends meet, hearts warm. 
 
 " As hatred is the serpent's noisome rod, 
 
 So friendship is the living gift of God : 
 
 The drunken friend is friendship's very evil; 
 
 The frantic friend is friendship for the devil : 
 
 The quiet friend, all one in word and deed, 
 
 Great comfort is, '.ike ready gold, in need. 
 
 Hast thou a friend the heart may wish at will ? 
 
 Then use him so, to have his friendship still. 
 
 Would'st have a friend ? — would'st know what friend is best ? 
 
 Have God thy friend, who passeth all the rest I " 
 
 T. Tusser. 
 
 God. 
 
 Forsake not God till you find a better master. 
 
 Gie God the first and the last of every day. 
 
 Gie your heart to God, and your awms to the poor. 
 
 God does not measure men by inches. 
 
 God is kind to fools and drunken folk. 
 
 God is kind to fou folk and bairns. 
 
 [From the remarkable manner in which young children and drunken 
 people escape injury.]
 
 26 SCO TTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 God ne'er sent the mouths without the meat. 
 
 God puts his best jewel in his finest cabinet. 
 
 God sends water to the well that folk thinks will ne'er be dry. 
 [" Spoken when our poor kin and followers are always asking of us 
 as if we should never be exhausted." — Kelly,'] 
 
 God sends fools fortunes, 
 
 God sends us claith according to our cauld. 
 
 God shapes the back for the burden. 
 
 God tempers the wind to the new shorn lamb. 
 
 God's help is nearer than the fair e'en. 
 
 God trusts every ane with the care of his own soul. 
 
 In every work begin and end with God. 
 
 Good. 
 
 A gude cause maks a stout heart and a strong arm. 
 
 A gude conscience is the best divinity. 
 
 A gude example is the best sermon. 
 
 A gude fame is better than a gude face. 
 
 A gude life is the only religion. 
 
 A gude life maks a happ)- death. 
 
 A gude name is better than a fou house. 
 
 A gude paymaster never wants hands to work. 
 
 This is my gude that does me gude. 
 
 Good Conduct. 
 
 Adversity overcome is the greatest glory. 
 
 Do on the hill as ye would do in the ha'. 
 
 Do the likeliest and hope the best. 
 
 Do weel and doubt nae man, do ill and doubt a' men. 
 
 Do weel and dread nae shame. 
 
 Do what you ought and let come what will. 
 
 Do your turn weel, and nane will speir how lang you tak.
 
 GIFT. 27 
 
 First deserve, and then desire. 
 
 Handsome is, who handsome does. 
 
 Keep gude company and ye '11 be counted ane o' them. 
 
 Send your son to Ayr : if he did weel here he'll do weel there. 
 
 Tell the truth and shame the deil. 
 
 There is more glory in forgiving an injury, than there is 
 
 pleasure in revenging it. 
 Warks bear witness wha weel does. 
 Weel is that weel does. 
 
 Good Counsel. 
 
 Gude advice is ne'er out o' season. 
 Gude counsel is aboon a' price. 
 
 Gentility. 
 
 A gentleman should hae mair in his pouch than on his back. 
 
 A gentleman without an estate is like a pudding without suet. 
 
 Gentility without ability is waur than plain beggary. 
 
 Gentle puddocks hae lang taes. 
 
 [Those in authority and power can reach you though at a distance ; 
 therefore provoke them not.] 
 
 Gentry sent to the market winna buy a peck o' meal. 
 
 He is the best gentleman wha is the sun o' his ain merit. 
 
 The first thing a bare gentleman asks in the morning is a needle 
 
 and a thread. 
 
 When Adam delved and Eve span, 
 
 Where was then the gentleman : 
 
 Upstarted a carl and gathered gude, 
 
 And thence came a' our gentle bluid. 
 
 Gift. 
 
 A gien horse shoudna be looked i' the mouth. 
 A gift wi' a kind look is a double present.
 
 SC TTISH PR 1 'ERBS. 
 
 A' gifts are no graces. 
 
 He doubles his gift that gies 't in time. 
 
 Muckle gifts mak beggars bauld. 
 
 Naething is freer than a gift. 
 
 The wife's aye welcome that comes wi' a crooket oxter. 
 [That comes with a present, the arm being bent in carrying it.] 
 
 They are aye gude that gies. 
 
 They are aye welcome that brings. 
 
 They that come wi' a gift dinna need to stand lang at the door. 
 
 They that gie you hinder you to buy. 
 
 Gluttony. 
 A crani'd kyte maks a crazy carcase. 
 A man may dig his grave wi' his teeth. 
 Muckle meat, mony maladies. 
 
 Mutton is sweet, and gars mony die ere they be sick. 
 [Makes people steal sheep for which they get hanged.] 
 
 Suppers kill mair than doctors cure. 
 
 Surfeits slay mair than swords. 
 
 Wha dainties loves will poor prove. 
 
 Your belly winna let your back be rough. 
 \_Ro7cgh, clad.] 
 
 Gratitude. 
 
 A borrowed lend should gae laughing hame. 
 [A loan should be returned with thanks and grace.} 
 
 Ae gude turn deserves anither. 
 
 Gratitude is a heavy burden. 
 
 Gratitude preserves auld friendships and begets new. 
 
 Gudewill ne'er wants time to show itsel. 
 
 Gudewill should aye be taen in part o' payment. 
 
 He that gies to a gratefu-man, puts out to interest. 
 
 Tak the will for the deed.
 
 GREED. 29 
 
 Greed. 
 
 A greedy ee ne'er gat a fou wame. 
 [Greedy persons are never satisfied.] 
 
 A greedy ee ne'er gat a gude pennyworth. 
 
 A greedy guts ne'er got a gude meltith, 
 
 Ae beggar is wae that anither by the gate gae. 
 
 A' is fish that comes in the net. 
 
 A' is nae part. 
 
 Gie the greedy dog a muckle bane. 
 
 Greedy fouk hae lang arms. 
 
 He can hide his meat and seek main 
 
 [" Spoken when covetous people pretend poverty ; and concea their 
 wealth to plead pity." — Kelly. \ 
 
 He 's like a bagpipe, he 's ne'er heard till his wame's fou. 
 
 He looks as he would swallow it. 
 
 He that has muckle would aye hae mair. 
 
 He'll gang to hell for house profit. 
 
 He'll gie his bane to nae dog. 
 
 He'll hae aneugh some day, when his mouth's fou o' mools. 
 
 [He'll have enough when his mouth is filled with the earth of the ^rave.] 
 
 He'll no gie the head for the washing. 
 
 [He'll not readily part with his own interest.] 
 
 Little wats the ill-willie wife what a meal may haud in. 
 [A good dinner may procure friends and interest.] 
 
 Mony ane tines the half-merk whinger for the ha'penny whang. 
 [Loses a half-merk dagger or knife for the want of a half-penny thong, 
 that is, loses an article of value by not laying out upon it a trifling 
 expense.] 
 
 Some tak a', but ye leave naething. 
 
 The deil 's greedy, but you're mislear'd. 
 
 The greedy man and the gileynour are soon agreed. 
 
 The kirk's aye greedy. 
 
 The miller aye taks the best mouter wi' his ain hands. 
 
 What your ee seeth your heart greeneth. 
 
 Ye are ane o' the house o' Harl-to-them. 
 \_Hnrl, to rake, to drag.]
 
 30 SCO T7ISH PRO VERBS. 
 
 Ye hae a crap for a' corn. 
 
 Ye ne'er see green cheese but your een reels. 
 
 Ye ne'er see green cheese but your teeth waters. 
 
 Ye wad marry a midden for the muck. 
 
 Ye'U break your neck as soon as your fast in his house. 
 
 Habit, 
 
 Ae year a nurse, and seven years a daw. 
 
 [Because in that year she will contract a habit of idleness.] 
 
 An ill custom is like a gude cake — better broken than kept. 
 
 Auld sparrows are ill to tame. 
 
 Ca' a cow to the ha', and she '11 rin to the byre. 
 
 Eith learning the cat to the kirn. 
 
 Gie you a use, and ye 11 ca 't a custom. 
 
 He 's an old horse that winna nicher when he sees corn. 
 
 Learn the cat to the kirn, and she '11 aye be licking. 
 
 Happiness. 
 
 A blythe heart makes a blooming look. 
 
 A wee housie weel filled ; a v/ee piece land weel tilled ; a wee 
 
 wifie weel willed,— will make a happy man. 
 Every inch of joy has an ell of annoy. 
 He 's no the happiest man that has the maist gear. 
 It 's no what we hae, but what we do wi' what we hae, that 
 
 maks us happy or miserable. 
 
 Haste. 
 
 Bargains made in a hurry are aften repented o' at leisure. 
 
 Haste and anger hinder gude counsel. 
 
 Haste maks waste, and waste maks want, and want maks strife 
 
 between the gudeman and gudewife. 
 
 Hasty was hanged, but Speed-o'-foot wan awa. 
 \_Wa7i awa, succeeded in getting away.]
 
 HELP. 31 
 
 He wha rides before he is ready, aye wants some o' his gear. 
 
 Quick, for you '11 ne 'er be cleanly. 
 
 [" Do a thing nimbly, for you will never do it neatly." — Keliy.'] 
 
 *' The mair haste the less speed," as the tailor said, wi' his lang 
 
 thread. 
 
 There 's a het hurry when there 's a hen to roost. 
 
 Health. 
 
 Ae hour's cauld will sook out seven years' heat. 
 
 After dinner sit a while ; after supper walk a mile. 
 
 A gude wife and health is a man's best wealth. 
 
 Be lang sick, that ye may be soon weel. 
 
 Better wait on the cook than on the doctor. 
 
 Better wear shoon than sheets. 
 
 Broken bread maks hale bairns. 
 
 Cast not a clout till May be out. 
 
 Gude health is better than wealth. 
 
 He wha eats but ae dish seldom needs the doctor. 
 
 Health is the best wealth. 
 
 If you wish to be healthy, clothe warmly and eat sparingly. 
 
 Light suppers mak lang life. 
 
 Raw dauds mak fat lads. 
 
 The town for wealth, the country for health. 
 
 Help. 
 
 God helps them that help themselves. 
 
 Help is gude at a' thing, except at the cog. 
 [Except when taking food.] 
 
 The laird may be laird and need his hind's help. 
 
 The king's errand may come in the cadger's gate yet. 
 [" A great man may want a mean man's service."— AW/j'.]
 
 32 SCO TTISH PRO VERBS. 
 
 Home. 
 
 East or west, name is best. 
 Hame is hame, be 't ever sae hamely. 
 
 There 's nae place like hame, quo' the deil, when he fand 
 himsel i' the Court o' Session. 
 
 Honesty. 
 
 A thread will tic an honest man better than a rape will do a 
 
 rogue. 
 Confess debt, and crave time. 
 Confessed faults are half mended. 
 He that cheats in daffm winna be honest in earnest 
 Honesty may be dear bought, but can ne'er be an ill pennyworth. 
 It '11 haud out an honest man, but naething '11 hand out a rogue 
 Mony an laonest man needs help that hasna the face to seek it. 
 Naething is a man's truly but what he cometh by duly. 
 O' a' crafts to be an honest man is the master-craft. 
 Open confession is gude for the saul. 
 The nod o' an honest man is aneugh. 
 Wrang count is nae payment. 
 
 Honour. 
 
 Bourd not wi' my ee nor mine honour. 
 His life, but not his honour, failed him. 
 Honours change manners. 
 The post of honour is the post of danger. 
 
 There 's mair glory in using a victory moderately, than in 
 gaining it niightilie. 
 
 Hope. 
 
 He wha lives on hope has a slender diet. 
 He wha lives on hope will die fasting.
 
 HUNGER. 33 
 
 Hope bauds up the head. 
 Hope weel, and hae weel. 
 If it werena for hope, the heart would break. 
 Nane are sae weel but they hope to be better. 
 When the heart's past hope, the face is past shame. 
 HuxMAN Life. 
 
 A reeky house and a scolding wife. 
 
 Will lead a man a fashious life. 
 A winter day, and a wintry way, is the life o' man. 
 Be thou weel, or be thou wae, you will not be aye sae. 
 God's providence has balanced peculiar sufferings with paculiar 
 
 enjoyments. 
 Life consists not in breathing but in enjoying life. 
 Misery brings a man acquainted wi' strange bed-fallows. 
 Nae man can mak his ain hap (destiny). 
 Nae man has a tack o' his life. 
 The langer we live, we see the mae ferlies. 
 There 's aye life for a living man. 
 Trouble and adversity mak greatness and prosperity far mair 
 
 pleasant. 
 
 When hope and hap, when health and wealth are highest, 
 
 — Then woe and wreck, disease. and death are nighest. 
 
 Hunger. 
 
 A hungry louse bites sair. 
 
 A hungry man is an angry man. 
 
 A hungry man's meat is aye lang o' making ready. 
 
 A hungry man has aye a lazy cook. 
 
 A hungry man sees far. 
 
 A hungry wame has nae lugs. 
 
 [Hungry people will not liiten to reasoD.j 
 
 Hard fare maks hungry bellies. 
 D
 
 34 -SCO TTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 He ne'er taks pleasure in his meat wha ne'er was hungry, 
 
 His wame thinks his wizzen is cut. 
 
 [And consequently the supply of food Stopped.] 
 
 Hunger is good kitchen-meat. 
 [Hunger is good sauce.] 
 
 Hunger is hard in a hale maw. 
 
 Hunger me and I'll harry thee. 
 [Servants badly fed are apt to steal.] 
 
 Hunger never fails of a gude cook. 
 
 Hunger will break through stane wa's. 
 
 Hungry dogs are blythe o' bursten puddins. 
 
 Hungry dogs will eat dirty puddins. 
 
 Hungry stewards wear mony shoon. 
 
 Naething stops the memory when you're hungry. 
 
 Scart the cog would hae mair. 
 
 [He that scrapes the inside of the dish wishes for more,] 
 
 Sharp stamachs mak short graces. 
 
 The first dish is aye best eaten. 
 
 Toom sta's mak biting horses. 
 
 Ye hae tint your ain stamach, and found the dog's. 
 
 Ye was sae hungry, ye couldna stay for the grace. 
 
 You're ne'er pleased — fou nor fasting. 
 
 Idleness. 
 
 An idle brain is the deil's smiddy. 
 
 An idle man is the deil's bolster. 
 
 By doing naething we learn to do ill. 
 
 Idle dogs worry sheep. 
 
 Idle young, needy auld. 
 
 If the deil finds an idle man he sets him to wark. 
 
 He's idle, that might be better employed. 
 
 He that gapes till he be fed, will gape till he be dead. 
 
 Nadhing is got without pains but dirt and lang nails.
 
 INDUSTRY. 35 
 
 Tarry lang brings little hame. 
 
 There's mair whistling wi' you than red land. 
 
 [Than ground turned by the plough, that is, there's more amusement 
 than work.] 
 
 You're like the lambs, ye do naething but suck and wag your 
 
 tail. 
 
 Industry. 
 
 " A begun turn's half ended," quo' the wife, when she stuck the 
 
 graip in the midden. 
 
 A foul hand maks a clean hearthstane. 
 
 A gaun fit is aye getting, were it but a thorn. 
 {_Fit, foot.] 
 
 A gude beginning maks a gude ending. 
 
 A gude day's darg may be done wi' a dirty spade. 
 
 A working hand is worth a gowpen o' gowd. 
 
 Ae hour in the morning is worth twa at night. 
 
 Aye wark and nae ploy, maks Jock a dull boy. 
 
 Eident youth maks easy age. 
 
 Frugality is a fair fortune, and industry a good estate. 
 
 Gathering gear is a pleasant pain. 
 
 Get your rock and your spindle, and God will send you tow. 
 
 Gude forecast furthers the wark. 
 
 If you want your business weel done, do't yoursel. 
 
 Industry maks a braw man, and breaks ill-fortune. 
 
 Nae gains without pains. 
 
 Nae sweat, nae sweet. 
 
 Naething is got without pains but an ill name. 
 
 Naething is sae difficult but may be overcome wi' perseverance. 
 
 Perseverance performs greater works than strength. 
 
 Plough deep while sluggards sleep. 
 
 The fit (foot) on the cradle, the hand on the reel, 
 Is the sign o' a woman that means to do weel.
 
 36 SCOTTISH PROVERBS. 
 
 They maun hunger in frost that winna work in heat. 
 Work legs and win legs, hain legs and tine legs. 
 
 Ingratitude. 
 
 Buy a thief frae the widdie, and he'll cut your throat. 
 Do a man a gude turn, and he'll ne'er forgie you. 
 Ingratitude comprehends every vice. 
 Ingratitude is waur than the sin o" witchcraft. 
 
 Jealousy. 
 
 As ye do yoursel, ye judge o' your neighbour. 
 
 He that keeks through a key-hole may see what will vex him. 
 
 If the auld wife hadna been in the oven hersel, she ne'er wad 
 hae thought o' looking for her dochter there. 
 
 There's aye ill will amang cadgers. 
 
 Twa o' ae trade seldom agree. 
 
 Twa cats and ae mouse — twa mice in ae house — 
 Twa dogs and ae bane — ne'er will agree in ane. 
 
 Jesting. 
 
 A sooth bourd is nae bourd. 
 
 [" Spoken when people reflect too satirically upon the real vices, follies, 
 and miscarriages of their neighbours. " — Kelly.'] 
 
 Better tine your joke than tine your friend. 
 
 Bitter jests poison friendship. 
 
 He that maks folk afraid o' his wit, should be afraid o' their 
 
 memories. 
 
 Leave a jest when it pleases you best. 
 
 Mony a true tale 's tauld in jest. 
 
 Justice. 
 
 A gude cause makes a strong arm. 
 Do as ye wad be done to.
 
 KINGS. 37 
 
 Gie the deil his due. 
 
 Let the muckle horse get the mucklc wonlyne. 
 
 Live and let live. 
 
 The sin is no in taking a gude price but in giein' ill measure. 
 
 When ilka ane gets his ain, the thief will get the widdie. 
 
 Kindness. 
 
 A kindly word cools anger. 
 
 A man may be kind, and gie little o' his gear. 
 
 Favours unused are favours abused. 
 
 Hae ! gars a deaf man hear. 
 
 Hae, lad — rin, lad ; that maks a willing lad. 
 
 If I 'm no kind, i 'm no cumbersome. 
 
 Kindness begets kindness. 
 
 Kindness canna aye lie on ae side o' the house. 
 
 Kindness conies o' will ; it canna be coft. 
 
 Kindness is like cress seed — increases by sowing. 
 
 Kindness owercomes a' dislike. 
 
 Kindness will creep whare it canna gang. 
 
 That 's a piece a stepmither ne'er gied. 
 
 What you gie shines still, what you eat smells ill next day. 
 
 Kings. 
 
 Kings and bears aft worry their keepers. 
 
 Kings hae lang lugs. 
 
 Kings' caff is worth ither folks' corn. 
 
 [*' The perquisites that attend kings' service is better than the wages 
 of other persons."— A'c/Zy.] 
 
 Kings' cheese gangs half awa in parings. 
 
 [The expense of collecting it reduces the income-] 
 
 The king may come to Kelly yet, and when he comes he 'U ride. 
 [" The time may come that I may get my revenge upon such people ; and 
 then I will do it to purpose." — Kelly. "^ 
 
 410749
 
 38 SCOTTISH PROVERBS. 
 
 The king's errand may come in the cadger's gate. 
 
 [" A great man may want a mean man's service." — Kelly.'\ 
 
 The king's best guard is his subjects' love. 
 Kissing. 
 
 Kiss a carl and clap a carl, and that 's the way to tine a carl. 
 [" People of mean ^reeding are rather to be won by harsh treatment 
 than civil." — Kelly. '\ 
 
 Kiss a sclate stane, and that winna slaver you. 
 [Said by a girl when asked for a kiss.l 
 
 Kiss and be kind, the fiddler is blind. 
 
 Kissing gangs by favour. 
 
 Kissing is cried down since the shaking o' hands. 
 [Said by a girl when asked for a kiss-] 
 
 Mony ane kisses the bairn for love o' the nurse. 
 
 They should kiss the gudewife that would win the gudeman. 
 
 Laughter. 
 
 After joy conies annoy. 
 
 As lang lives the merry man as the sad. 
 
 It's nae laughing to girn in a widdie. 
 
 Laugh and grow fat. 
 
 Laugh and lay it down again. 
 
 Laugh at leisure, ye may greet ere e'en. 
 
 They showed their back teeth laughing. 
 
 They that laugh in the morning will greet ere e'en. 
 
 Ye hae found a mare's nest, and laugh at the eggs. 
 
 Law. 
 
 A bad judgment is better than a law-suit. 
 
 Abundance o' law breaks nae law. 
 
 A dumb man wins nae law. 
 
 A lawyer's gown is lined with the selfishness o' his clients. 
 
 A pennyweight o' love is worth a pound o' law.
 
 LAZINESS. 39 
 
 A wise lawyer ne'er gangs to law himsel. 
 
 Ae law-suit breeds twenty. 
 
 A' law is no justice. 
 
 He that loves law will get his fill o't. 
 
 In a thousand pounds o' law, there 's no an ounce of love. 
 
 Law is costly, — tak a pint and gree. 
 
 Law-makers shouldna be law-breakers. 
 
 Pleaing at the law is like fighting through a whin bush, 
 
 — The harder the blows, the sairer the scarts. 
 Sue a beggar and gain a louse. 
 
 Laziness. 
 
 A morning's sleep is worth a fauld o' sheep, to a hudderin-dud- 
 
 droun-daw (a lazy, slovenly drab.) 
 He ne'er made a gude darg wha gaed grumbling about it. 
 He that gapes till a bite fa' in his mouth may gape till he die. 
 
 Katie Sweerock, frae whare she sat, 
 
 Cries, ' Reik me this ' — and, ' Reik me that.' 
 [Lazy people keep asking others to do for them what they should do 
 themselves.] 
 
 Lazy youth maks lousy age. 
 
 Ony thing for you about an honest man's house but a day's 
 
 wark. 
 
 There ne'er was a slut but had a slit, or a daw but had twa. 
 \_A slit, a rent in her clothes.] 
 
 The slothfu man is the beggar's brither. 
 
 The slothfu man maks a slim fortune. 
 
 They 're eith hindered that's no furdersome. 
 
 Ye 're like the dogs o' Dunraggit, ye winna bark unless you hae 
 
 your hinder end at the wa'. 
 
 Ye tak but a foal's share o' the harrows. 
 
 Ye '11 do ony thing but work and rin errands. 
 
 Ye '11 sit till vou sweat and work till vou freeze.
 
 40 SCO TTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 Learning. 
 
 By learning naething we learn to do ill. 
 
 Learn young, learn fair : 
 
 Learn auld, learn mair. 
 Ne'er ower auld to learn. 
 We 're aye to learn as lang as we live. 
 
 Love. 
 Cauld cools the love that kindles ower het. 
 Dinna sigh for him, but send for him ; if he be unhanged, 
 
 he '11 come. 
 ["Spoken when a young maid sighs, alleging that it is for a 
 sweetheart." — Kelly.'] 
 
 Fanned fires and forced love ne'er did weel. 
 
 He that loves dearly chides severely. 
 
 Het love, hasty vengeance. 
 
 If you loe me, let it kythe. 
 
 Loe me little and loe me lang. 
 
 Love and lairdships like nae marrows. 
 
 Love and light winna hide. 
 
 Love has nae lack, be the dame ne'er sae black. 
 
 Love is as warm amang cottars as courtiers. 
 
 Love is ne'er without jealousy. 
 
 Love is without law. 
 
 Love looks o'er mony faults. 
 
 Love mysel, love my dog. 
 
 Love ower het soonest cools. 
 
 Love thinks nae ill, envy speaks nae gude. 
 
 Nae herb will cure love. 
 
 Perfect love canna be without equality. 
 
 There 's nae luck in love. 
 
 They that lie down in love should rise fasting.
 
 MARRIAGE. 
 
 They that love maist speak least. 
 Whaie the heart gaes let the tail follow. 
 When love cools, faults are seen. 
 
 Lying. 
 
 A liar is an economist of truth, 
 
 A liar should hae a gude memory. 
 
 A lie has nae legs, but scandal has wings. 
 
 He never lies but when the holland 's green. 
 [That is always, for the holly is ever green.] 
 
 If a lie could hae worried you, you would hae been dead 
 
 langsyne. 
 
 It 's a sin to lie on the deil. 
 
 Lying rides on debt's back. 
 
 Poets and painters hae leave to lie. 
 
 Shew me a constant liar, and I '11 show you a constant thief. 
 
 Ye didna lick your lips since you lied last. 
 
 jNIanners. 
 
 Meat feeds, claith cleads, but manners mak the man. 
 
 Meat is gude but mense is better. 
 
 He 's better fed than bread. 
 
 They were scant o' bairns that brought you up. 
 
 Ye hae gude manners, but ye bear them not about Vv^i' you. 
 
 INIarriage. 
 
 A man canna wive and thrive the same year. 
 
 Better half hanged than ill married. 
 
 Better marry ower the midden than ower the muir. 
 
 [Better marry among those you know than among strangers.] 
 
 He 's a fool wha marries at Yule, for when the bairn's to bear 
 
 the corn's to shear.
 
 42 SCO TTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 He that marries a daw eats muckle dirt. 
 
 He that marries a widow will hae a dead man's head often 
 
 thrown in his dish. 
 
 He that marries a widow marries a pockfu' o' fleas-ure. 
 
 l^Pleas.ure, because the widow is often involved in lawsuits. Another 
 proverb generally precedes this : — 
 He that marries a maiden marries a pockfu' o' pleasure.] 
 
 He that marries before he is wise will die before he thrive. 
 
 He wha marries for love without money hath merry nights and 
 
 sorry days. 
 He wha tells his wife a' is but shortly married. 
 If gude marriages are made in heaven, whare are the bad anes 
 
 made ? 
 
 If marriages are made in heaven, you hae few friends there. 
 [Because you have a bad wife.] 
 
 If ye winna, anither will ; sae are maidens married. 
 
 Like blude, like gude, like age, mak the happy marriage. 
 
 Marriage and hanging gae by destiny. 
 
 Marriages and deaths break term days. 
 
 Married folk are like rats in a trap — fain to get ithers in, but 
 
 fain to be out themsels. 
 
 Marry a beggar and get a louse for your tocher. 
 
 Marry aboon your match and get a master. 
 
 Marry for love and work for siller. 
 
 Marry your son when you will, but your dochter when you can. 
 
 Never marry a widow unless her first husband was hanged. 
 
 Wedding and ill wintering tame both man and beast. 
 
 Wha marries between the sickle and the scythe will never thrive. 
 
 Ye hae tied a knot wi' your tongue you winna loose wi' your teeth. 
 
 Master. 
 
 A master's ee maks a fat horse. 
 
 A sinking master aft maks a rising man.
 
 MERCHANDISE. 43 
 
 Early master soon knave. 
 \K71ave, servant.] 
 
 Like master, like man. 
 
 Mony ane serves a thankless master. 
 
 * Mony masters,' quo' the taid, when every tynd o' the harrow 
 
 took him a tig. 
 
 [Spoken by those whom inferior persons presume to correct.] 
 
 The master's foot is the best foulzie [dung.] 
 
 [The care and attention of the master will make the business prosper.] 
 
 ■Meat. 
 
 A fou wame maks a straight back. 
 
 A wamefu's a wamefu, were't but o' cauld kail. 
 
 Meat and mass ne'er hindered wark. 
 
 The cause is gude, and the word's ' fa' tae.' 
 [An invitation to begin eating.] 
 
 ' There's baith meat and music here,' quo' the dog, when he ate 
 
 the piper's bag. 
 
 Ye're as fou o' mischief as an egg's fou o' meat. 
 
 Merchandise. 
 
 Buy at the market and sell at hame. 
 
 Dry bargains are seldom successful. 
 [Said when a glass of ale is proposed.] 
 
 Ell and tell is gude merchandise. 
 
 [" The best market is to get ready money for your wares ; to the same 
 purpose, they say ' The best payment is on the peck bottom,' that is, 
 when you have measured out your grain, to receive your payment 
 on the peck that measured it." — Kelly. ~\ 
 
 Forgotten pains, when follow gains. 
 
 Gude wares mak a quick market. 
 
 Hale sale is gude sale. 
 
 He has got the boot and the better beast. 
 
 [In an exchange of horses or cattle a boot or something in addition is 
 given along with the inferior animal to equalise the exchange.] 
 
 He loses his time that comes early to a bad bargain.
 
 44 SCO TTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 lie that lends you hinders you to buy. 
 
 He wad need to be twice sheeled and ance ground that deals 
 
 wi' you. 
 
 The best payment is on the peck bottom. 
 [See 'Ell and tell S:c.,' page 43.] 
 
 The greatest burdens are no the maist gainful. 
 
 The green profit is aye the best. 
 
 There's a difference between — Will you sell? and — Will you 
 
 buy ? 
 
 They buy gudes cheap that bring hame naething. 
 
 Necessity. 
 
 Ane may think that daurna speak. 
 
 Any port in a storm. 
 
 He maun lout that has a laigh door. 
 
 He sits fu' close that has riven breeks. 
 
 [" A man who is not very clamorous in his complaints may He under 
 as great inconveniences as they that do. It took its rise from the 
 Earl of Angus, who, being in an engagement, and there wounded, 
 stayed till all his men were drest, and then told them that he was 
 wounded himself by repeating this proverb." — Kelly. 1 
 
 He'll rather turn than burn. 
 
 Maun-do is a fell fallow (fellow). 
 
 Mony ane doth lack v/hat they'd fain hae in their pack. 
 
 Necessity has nae law. 
 
 Necessity is a hard master. 
 
 Necessity 's the mither o' invention. 
 
 Need maks greed. 
 
 Need maks the auld wife trot. 
 
 Neighbours. 
 
 A great man and a great river are often ill neighbours. 
 A gude lawyer, an ill neighbour.
 
 POVERTY. 45 
 
 I would rather strive wi' the great rigg than wi' an ill neigh- 
 bour. 
 ["An apologj- of him that takes a larger farm than we suppose he can 
 manage : That he would rather do his best with it than be vexed 
 with the contentions of an ill partner."— A>//j'.] 
 
 We can live without our friends, but no without our neigh- 
 bour. 
 
 Patience. 
 
 Dree out the inch as yc hae done the span. 
 [Endure unto the end.] 
 
 He that canna thole maun flit many a hole. 
 
 Patience is a plaster for a' sairs. 
 
 Patience wi' poverty is a man's best remedy. 
 
 Thole weel is gude for burning. 
 
 Plenty. 
 
 He kensna the pleasures o' plenty, wha ne'er felt the pains o' 
 
 penury. 
 Plenty maks dainty. 
 Wealth gars wit waver. 
 
 Poverty. 
 
 A gien piece is soon eaten. 
 A light purse maks a heavy heart. 
 A poor man gets a poor marriage. 
 A poor man is fain o' little. 
 A sillerless man gaes fast through the market. 
 A toom purse maks a blate merchant. 
 Ae half o' the warld kens not how the other half live. 
 An empty purse fills the face wi' wrinkles. 
 As poor as a kirk mouse. 
 
 Aye taking out o' the meal pock and ne'er putting in't soon 
 comes to the bottom.
 
 45 SCO 7 TISH PR VERBS. 
 
 Bare backs mak burnt shins. 
 
 Bare shouthers mak mizzled shins. 
 
 Bashfulness is an enemy to poverty. 
 
 For puir folk they ring seldom. 
 
 Fresh fish and puir friends soon grow ill sar'd (ill-savoured). 
 
 He's as bare as the birk at Yule. 
 
 He that hasna gear to tine has shins to pine. 
 
 He that has nae siller in his purse, should hae silk on his tongue. 
 
 It's sin, and no poverty, that maks a man miserable. 
 
 Mony ane would hae been waur had their estates been better. 
 
 Pennyless souls maun pine in purgatory. 
 
 Poets and painters are aye poor. 
 
 Poor folk hae neither ony kindred nor ony friends. 
 
 Poor folks' friends soon misken them. 
 
 Portith is better than pride. 
 
 Portith is pain, but nae disgrace. 
 
 Portith parts gude company. 
 
 Poverty is the mither o' a' arts. 
 
 The back and the belly keep the hands busy. 
 
 The best that can happen to a poor man, is that ae bairn die 
 
 and the rest follow. 
 The poor man is aye put to the warst. 
 The poor man pays for a'. 
 
 When gude cheer is lacking, friends go a-packing. 
 When we want, friends are scant. 
 When poverty comes in at the door, love flees out by the 
 
 window. 
 
 Wi' an empty hand nae man can hawks lure. 
 [No one will serve you for nothing.] 
 
 Praise. 
 Praise without profit puts little in the purse.
 
 PRIDE. 47 
 
 Self-praise comes aye stinking ben. 
 
 Self-praise is nae honour. 
 
 True praise taks root and spreads. 
 
 Prayer. 
 
 God be wi' the gude laird o' Balmaghie, for he ne'er took mair 
 
 frae a poor man than what he had. 
 God help them that's gotten by ane and brought up by another. 
 God help the rich folk, for the poor can beg. 
 " God keep ill gear out o' my hands ; for if iny hands ance get 
 
 it, my heart will ne'er part wi't," — sae prayed the gude Earl 
 
 of Eglinton. 
 God send us some siller, for they're little thought o' that want it. 
 God send you mair sense, and me mair siller. 
 God send you the warld you bode, and that's neither scant nor 
 
 want. 
 
 \Bode, wish for.] 
 
 Prayer and practice is gude rhyme. 
 
 Prayer moves the hand that moves the world. 
 
 Prayer should be the key o' the day and the lock o' the night. 
 
 He that sittes down to the buirde to eit, 
 Forgetting to gif God thanks for his meit, 
 Syne r\-sis up and lets his grace owerpass, — 
 Sittes down lyk an ox, and rysis lyk ane ass. 
 
 From John Maxwell's IVorks, 1584. 
 
 Pride. 
 
 A proud heart in a poor breast has muckle dolour to dree. 
 
 A proud mind and a beggar's purse agree ill thegither. 
 
 A twalpenny cat may look at the king. 
 
 Alike ilka day maks a clout on Sunday. 
 
 [Don't wear your best clothes every day or they won't be fit for Sunday.] 
 
 A's no gowd that glitters.
 
 48 SCO 7 JISH PR 1 ^ERBS. 
 
 A' Campbells are no sib to the duke (of Arg>'le). 
 [Campbell being the family name cf the Duke.] 
 
 A' Stewarts are no sib to the king. 
 
 [Referring to the Stewart line of Scots kings. The following explana- 
 tion by Kelly serves for both proverbs : — 
 
 "Men's pretences to great things are not always well 
 grounded. Spoken when people boast of some great man of 
 their name."] 
 
 An only dochter is either a deil or a daw. 
 
 Arrogance is a weed that grows maistly in a midden. 
 
 As gude may haud the stirrup as he that loups on. 
 
 As you thrive your feet fails you. 
 
 [The farther you go, the farther behind. Said when people meet with 
 unexpected interruptions in their business.] 
 
 Bare gentry, bragging beggars. 
 
 Bastard brood are aye proud. 
 
 Deil stick pride, for my dog died o't. 
 
 He's a proud horse that winna carry his ain provender. 
 
 He struts like a craw in a gutter. 
 
 He thinks himsel nae page's peer. 
 
 He thinks himsel nae sheep's-shank. 
 
 He thinks himsel worth muckle mice dirt. 
 
 I wish I had as muckle black pepper, as he thinks himsel worthy 
 
 o' mice dirt. 
 [Said of the self-conceited.] 
 
 Pride and grace ne'er dwalt in ae place. 
 
 Pride and laziness tak muckle uphauding. 
 
 Pride but profit soon gangs barefoot. 
 \_B2it, without.] 
 
 Pride finds nae cauld. 
 
 [Said to women who went with their breasts and shoulders bare in com- 
 pliance with the fashion.] 
 
 Pride gaes afore a fa'. 
 
 Pride never leaves its master till he gets a fa'. 
 
 Pride that dines wi' vanity sups wi' contempt. 
 
 Pride will get a fa'.
 
 PRUDENCE IN ACTION. 49 
 
 Shame fa' them that think shame to do themsels a gude turn. 
 The haughty hawk winna stoop to carrion. 
 The proudest nettle grows on the midden. 
 When pride 's in the van, begging 's in the rear. 
 Ye'll fa' in the midden looking at the moon. 
 
 Property. 
 
 A bird in the hand 's worth twa in a bush. 
 
 A bird in the hand 's worth twa fleeing by. 
 
 He that aughts the cow gaes nearest her tail. 
 
 ["Every man is busy and careful about his proper interest.' — Kelly.'] 
 
 He that buys a house that's wrought, 
 
 Has mony a pin and nail for nought. 
 
 He that gets gear before he gets wit will die ere he thrive. 
 
 He that has a cow in the mire will first put his foot in 't. 
 
 He that has ae sheep in a flock will like a' the lave the better 
 
 for 't. 
 
 ["Spoken when we have a son at such a school, university, army, or 
 society, we will wish the prosperity of these respective bodies upon 
 his account." — Kelly.'] 
 
 Possession is eleven points o' the law. 
 
 The ill use we mak o' our prosperity is often the cause o' our 
 
 misfortunes. 
 
 There ne'er was a loss without some sma profit. 
 
 Prudence in Action. 
 A bite is aften better gien than eaten. 
 A penny saved is twice earned. 
 A sma' leak will sink a great ship. 
 
 Ane may like the kirk weel enough, and no ride on the rigging 
 o't. 
 
 ["A man may love a thing or person very well, and yet not show too 
 much fondness." — Kelly.~] 
 
 As the wind blaws, seek your beild. 
 [Suit yourself to circumstances.]
 
 so SCOTTISH PROVERBS. 
 
 Ax your purse what you should buy. 
 
 Aye tak the fee when the tear 's in the ee. 
 
 Be a friend to yoursel, and ithers will. 
 
 Be ready with your hat, but slow with your purse. 
 
 Be the thing ye wad be ca'd. 
 
 Be what you seem, and seem what you are. 
 
 Bear and forbear is gude philosophy. 
 
 Before you choose a friend eat a peck o' saut wi' him. 
 [That you may be the better acquainted with his humours.] 
 
 Better at a time to gie than tak. 
 
 Better master ane than fight wi' ten. 
 
 Cast not out the auld water till the new come in. 
 
 Combat vice in the first attack, and ye '11 come afif conqueror. 
 
 Count like Jews and gree like brithers. 
 
 Count siller after a' your kin. 
 
 Cut your coat according to your claith. 
 
 Deal sma' and sair a'. 
 
 Dinna cast awa the cog when the cow flings, 
 [Be not discouraged by a little misfortune.] 
 
 Dinna meddle wi' the deil and the laird's bairns. 
 
 Dinna scald your mouth wi' ither folk's kail. 
 [Leave other people's business alone.] 
 
 Dinna tell your fae when your fit sleeps. 
 
 Get weel, keep week 
 
 Get what you can, and keep what you hae, is the way to get rich. 
 
 Gude gear 's no to be gaped at. 
 
 Gude watch prevents harm. 
 
 He has a gude judgment wha doesna lippen to his ain. 
 
 He winna sell his hen on a rainy day. 
 
 If you would be a merchant fine, beware o' auld horses, herring, 
 
 and wine. 
 [Old horses will die, herrings stink, and wine become sour.] 
 It 's gude to dread the warst, the best will be the welcomer.
 
 PRUDENCE IN CONVERSATION. 51 
 
 Keep woo and it will be dirt : 
 
 Keep lint and it will be silk. 
 [Wool rots by keeping, lint improves.] 
 
 Keep your ain fish guts for your ain sea-maws. 
 
 [Keep your superfluities for your own relations and friends.] 
 
 Lay a thing by, and it will come o' use. 
 
 Let sleeping dogs lie. 
 
 Let weel alane. 
 
 Let your horse drink what he will, but not when he will. 
 
 Little meddling maks fair parting. 
 
 Lock your door that you may keep your neighbour honest. 
 
 Mak friends o' fremit folk. 
 
 Mak the best o' a bad bargain. 
 
 Mak your hay when the sun shines. 
 
 Ne'er draw your dirk when a dunt will do. 
 
 Never find fault wi' my shoon, unless you pay my souter. 
 
 Though auld and wise, yet still advise. 
 S^Advise, take advice.] 
 
 When you 're in Rome, do as the folk o' Rome do. 
 
 Wink at sma faults, ye hae great anes yoursel. 
 
 You'll ne'er harry yoursel wi' your ain hands. 
 
 Prudence in Conversation. 
 
 A close mouth catches nae flies. 
 
 A gude tongue is a safe weapon. 
 
 A gude word is as easy said as an ill ane. 
 
 A man may haud his tongue in an ill time. 
 
 A meek answer slockens melancholy. 
 
 Ale-sellers should not be tale-tellers. 
 
 A' that's said in the kitchen, shouldna be tauld in the ha.' 
 
 A' the truth shouldna be tauld. 
 
 Believe not a' you hear, and tell not a' you believe. 
 
 Fair words break nae banes, foul words mony ane.
 
 SCOT TISH PR VERBS. 
 
 He kens muckle wha kens when to speak, but far mair wha kens 
 
 when to hand his tongue. 
 He should not speak o' rapes, whose father was hanged. 
 He that speaks the thing he shouldna, will hear the thing he 
 
 wouldna. 
 It's a gude tongue that says nae ill, but a better heart that thinks 
 
 nane. 
 Little said is soonest mended. 
 
 Seek muckle, get something ; seek little, and get naething. 
 Speak not o' rapes in the house whare the father was hanged. 
 Speak when you're spoken to, and drink when you're drucken to. 
 They're scant o' news wha tell their father was hanged. 
 Think mair than you say. 
 Think twice, speak but ance. 
 
 Reputation. 
 
 A gude name is sooner tint than won. 
 
 Better a gude name than a fou house. 
 
 Reputation is aften got without merit and tint without crime. 
 
 Reputation is to virtue what light is to a picture. 
 
 The first step to a gude name is a gude life, and the next step is 
 
 gude behaviour. 
 They that get the name o' early rising, may lie in bed a' day. 
 
 Riches. 
 
 A fou hand may count wi' the deil. 
 
 A fou purse maks a man speak. 
 
 A fou purse maks a tattling merchant. 
 
 A fou purse never lacks friends. 
 
 A gowd key will open ony lock. 
 
 A heavy purse maks a light heart.
 
 RICHES. 53 
 
 A penny in my purse will gar me drink when my friends winna. 
 
 A penny in the purse is a merry companion. 
 
 A penny in the purse is better than a crown spent. 
 
 A rich man has mair cousins than his father had kin. 
 
 A rich man's wooing need seldom be a lang ane. 
 
 As the carl riches, he wretches, 
 
 \lVretches, becomes niggardly.] 
 
 As wealth wanders, wit weakens. 
 
 Be it better, be it worse, be ruled by him that has the purse. 
 
 Bear wealth, poverty will bear itself. 
 
 Gear is easier gotten than guided. 
 
 Gowd gets in at ilka yett except heaven. 
 
 Gowd is gude only in the hand o' virtue. 
 
 He 's no aye the happiest man that has the maist gear. 
 
 He 's rich that has nae debt. 
 
 He 's weel stocket there ben, that will neither borrow nor len. 
 
 [He must be well furnished in his house that does not require to borrow, 
 and will not lend.] 
 
 He that has siller in his purse, canna want a head on his 
 
 shouthers. 
 \_Want, do without.] 
 
 Leal folk ne'er wanted gear. 
 
 Little wealth, little sorrow. 
 
 Live within your income and live lang, is the sure way to get 
 
 rich. 
 Money is aye welcome, were it in a dirty clout. 
 Money is better than my lord's letter. 
 
 Money is like the muck midden, it does nae gude till it bespread. 
 Money is the root o' a' ill. 
 Money maks the mare to go. 
 Money would beget, if there was money to get it. 
 Mony ane's gear is money ane's death.
 
 54 SCO TTISH PRO VERBS. 
 
 Money purses haud friends lang thegether. 
 
 Moyen does muckle, but money does main 
 
 Rich folk hae routh o' friends. 
 
 Rich folk's wit rives poor folk's jaws. 
 
 Riches are got wi' pain, kept wi' care, and tint wi' grief. 
 
 Riches have made mair men covetous, than covetousness has 
 
 made men rich. 
 There 's nae companion like the penny. 
 Wealth as it is bestowed, and knowledge as it is communicated, 
 
 properly constitute their value. 
 Wealth, like want, ruins mony. 
 When honour grew mercenary, riches grew honourable. 
 
 Selfishness. 
 
 Every miller would weise the water to his ain mill. 
 Farmers' faugh gars lairds laugh. 
 
 The meal cheap, and the shoon dear. 
 
 The souter's wife likes weel to hear. 
 
 Self-will. 
 
 A wilfu man maun hae his way. 
 
 A wilfu man should be unco wise. 
 
 He that will to Cupar maun to Cupar. 
 
 [The same as 'A wilfu man maun hae his way.'] 
 
 He that winna be counselled canna be helped. 
 
 He wouldna gie an inch o' his ain will for a span o' his thrift. 
 
 Tak your ain will o't, and you'll no die o' the pet. 
 
 Tak your ain will o't, as the cat did o' the haggis — first ate the 
 
 haggis and then creepit into the bag. 
 
 Your as wilfu as a sow — you'll neither lead nor drive. 
 
 Slander. 
 
 A tale-bearer is waur than a thief.
 
 SYCOPHANCY. 55 
 
 A tale ne'er tines in the telling. 
 
 Ne'er speak ill o' them whose bread you eat. 
 
 Our bosom friends are sometimes our backbiters. 
 
 Slander leaves a sair behind. 
 
 Slander leaves a slur. 
 
 Sorrow. 
 
 A sorrowfu' heart 's aye dry. 
 
 [Applied to widows or widowers who drink freely to quench their grief.] 
 
 All earthly pleasures perish in sorrow. 
 
 Dool and an ill life soon mak an auld wife. 
 
 He's weel worth sorrow that buys't wi' his ain siller. 
 \}Vorth, deserving of.] 
 
 O' a' sorrows a fou sorrow is the best. 
 
 [" Spoken when friends die and leave good legacies." — Kelly. '\ 
 
 Sadness and gladness succeed each other. 
 
 Seyle ne'er comes till sorrow be awa'. 
 
 Sorrow and ill weather come unsent for. 
 
 Sorrow is gude for naething but sin. 
 
 Sorrow is soon aneugh when it comes. 
 
 Time and thinking tame the strongest grief. 
 
 When sorrow comes, it runs. 
 
 When sorrow sleeps, wake it not. 
 
 Stealing. 
 
 A careless watch invites the thief. 
 
 Begin wi' needle and preen, and end wi' cow and ewe. 
 
 Begin wi' needle and preen, and end wi' horned nowte. 
 
 He that steals a preen, will steal a better thing. 
 
 He that steals an auld man's supper does him a kindness. 
 
 Sycophancy. 
 As lang as ye serve the tod ye maun carry his tail.
 
 56 SCO TTISH PRO VERBS. 
 
 If the deil be laird, ye'll be tenant. 
 
 It's ill to say it's wrang, when my lord says it's right. 
 
 Ye're aye ready to blaw in his lug. 
 l^Blaw in one" s big, to flatter.] 
 
 Ye'll wag as the bush wags. 
 
 Taste. 
 
 Ae man's breath is anither man's death. 
 
 Ae man's meat is anither man's poison. 
 
 Fancy surpasseth beauty. 
 
 " Ilka ane to their taste," quo' the man, when he kissed his cow. 
 
 Ilka man as he likes, let him send to the cook. 
 [Let him choose as he pleases.] 
 
 It's no aye gude in the maw that's sweet in the mouth. 
 
 The proof o' the puddin's the preeing o't. 
 
 They that like the middin see nae motes in't. 
 
 Thriftlessness. 
 
 A fat kitchen is near to poverty. 
 
 Buy what you dinna want, and ye'll sell what you canna spare. 
 
 He eats the calf in the cow's wame. 
 [He spends his rent before it is due.] 
 
 He that borrows and biggs — maks feasts and thiggs— 
 
 — Drinks and is not dry, — these three are not thrifty. 
 
 He that spends his gear before he gets't, will hae little gude o't. 
 
 He that winna lout and lift a preen will ne'er be worth a groat. 
 
 He that winna save a penny will ne'er hae ony. 
 
 He wha spends before he thrives will beg before he thinks. 
 
 Spare at the spiggot, and let out at the bung hole. 
 [Penny wise and pound foolish.] 
 
 The thrift o' you and the woo o' a dog would make a braw web. 
 [A jest on those who pretend to be thrifty.] 
 
 The thrift o' you will be the death o' your gude dame. 
 
 There was ne'er a thrifty wife wi' a clout about her head.
 
 VISITORS. 57 
 
 hrift is a gude revenue. 
 
 ine needle, tine darg. 
 
 Tine needle, tine thrift. 
 
 Ye canna get thriving for thrang. 
 
 [" Your too much haste spoils your business."— /f^/Zy.] 
 
 Your thrift gaes as far as the profit o' a yeld hen. 
 Truth. 
 
 Tn our muckle clavering truth is tint. 
 
 There 's mony a sooth word spoken in bourding. 
 
 Truth and oil are aye uppermost. 
 
 Truth has a gude face but raggit claes. 
 
 Truth is the dochter o' time. 
 
 Truth will aye stand without a prop. 
 
 Virtue. 
 
 Gold is beneficial only in the hands of virtue. 
 
 Search others for their virtues and yourself for your vices. 
 
 Virtue is above value. 
 
 Virtue is its ain reward. 
 
 Virtue that requires a guard is no worth a sentinel. 
 
 Visitors, Welcome and Unwelcome. 
 
 A constant guest is ne'er welcome. 
 
 Fresh fish, and unwelcome visitors, stink before they are three 
 
 days auld. 
 He 's as welcome as snaw in hairst. 
 He 's as welcome as water in a riven ship. 
 He that comes unca'd sits unsair'd. 
 He that 's welcome fares well. 
 His absence is gude company. 
 His room is better than his company.
 
 58 SCO TTISH PR VERBS, 
 
 Stay nae langer in a friend's house than you 're welcome. 
 
 The wife 's aye welcome that comes wi' a crooket oxter. (See 
 the fifth on page 28.) 
 
 Welcome is the best dish in the kitchen. 
 
 " Our sowens are ill soured, ill sythed, ill sauted, ill soden, — thin 
 and few o' them ; ye may stay a' night, but ye may gae 
 hame an you like. It's weel ken'd your father's son was 
 ne'er a scambler." — A speech made by a wife to afi tinwel- 
 come visitor^ since tised as a Proverb. 
 
 War. 
 War maks thieves, and peace hangs them. 
 When drums beat law is silent. 
 
 Waste. 
 
 Biggin and bairns marrying are arrant wasters. 
 
 Haste maks waste, and waste maks want. 
 
 It's nae wonder wasters want and laithrons lag behind. 
 
 It's weel war'd that wasters want. 
 
 Kindle a candle at baith ends and it will soon burn out. 
 
 Mak nae bawks o' gude bear land. 
 
 [" Spoken when it is proposed to marry the youngest daughter before 
 the eldest."— AW/>'.] 
 
 Put a cow in a clout and she will soon wear out. 
 [The price of a cow is soon spent.] 
 
 Wilfu waste maks woefu want. 
 
 Will. 
 
 Eith to that thy ain heart wills. 
 It's eith working when will's at hame. 
 Naething is ill to be done when will's at hame. 
 To him that wills ways are seldom wanting. 
 When there 's a will there 's a way.
 
 WISDOM. 59 
 
 When the will's ready the feet's light. 
 
 Wisdom. 
 
 A little wit sairs a lucky man. 
 
 A wife is wise aneugh wha kens her ain gudeman's breeks frae 
 
 her ain kirtle. 
 
 [" She is a good wife who knows the true measure of the husband's 
 authority and her obedience." — Kelly.'] 
 
 A wise head maks a close mouth. 
 
 A wise man gets learning frae them that hae nane to them- 
 selves. 
 
 A wise man wavers, a fool is fixed. 
 
 An ounce o' a man's ain wit is worth ten o' ither folk's. 
 
 An ounce o' mitherwit is worth a pound o' clergy. 
 
 An ounce o' wit is worth a pound o' lear. 
 
 Better ae wit bought than twa for nought. 
 
 He has mair wit in his wee finger than ye hae in your hail 
 bouk (body). 
 
 He's a wise bairn that kens his ain father. 
 
 He's a wise man wha can tak care o' himsel. 
 
 He's wise that can mak a friend o' a fae. 
 
 He's wise that's timely wary. 
 
 He's wise that's wise in time. 
 
 He's wise that warns in time. 
 \_Warns, takes warning.] 
 
 He who ne'er thinks will ne'er be wise. 
 
 He who serves God is the truly wise man. 
 
 Honest men marry soon, wise men never. 
 
 If misfortune maks us wise, it pays for our losses. 
 
 The greatest clerks are no the wisest men. 
 
 The less wit a man has, the less he kens the want o't. 
 
 Want o' wit is waur than want o' gear. 
 
 Wisdom is best taught by distress.
 
 6o SCOTTISH PROVERBS. 
 
 Wit ance bought is worth it twice taught. 
 
 Wit bought maks wise folk. 
 
 Wit in a poor man's pow and moss on a mountain avail little. 
 
 Young men are made wise, auld men become so. 
 
 Woman. 
 
 A woman is at the best when she's openly bad. 
 
 A woman's gude either for something or naething. 
 
 A woman's mind is like the wind in a winter night. 
 
 A woman's wark is ne'er done. 
 
 Frailty, thy name is Woman. 
 
 It's no ' What is she ?' but « What has she ?' 
 
 Women and wine, dice and deceit, mak wealth sma and want 
 
 great. 
 Women laugh when they can, and greet when they will. 
 
 Wives. 
 
 A bonnie wife and a back door aften mak a man poor. 
 A fair wife without a tocher is like a fine house without furni- 
 ture. 
 
 K grunting horse and a graining wife seldom fail their master. 
 [" It is 'observed that tender and sickly wives commonly live long, rmd a 
 horse that grunts under a man.'proves often very durable."— /\rf//>'.] 
 
 A gude wife and health is a man's best wealth. 
 
 A horse broken and a wife to break, 
 
 A horse made and a wife to make. 
 
 A house wi' a reek and a wife wi' a reard will mak a man rln 
 
 to the door. 
 
 A toom pantry maks a thriftless gudewife. 
 
 A yeld sow was ne'er gude to gryces. 
 
 [Those who have no children of their own are seldom disposed to care for 
 those of other people.] 
 
 A' are gude lasses, but whare cam the ill wives frae ?
 
 WIVES. 6 1 
 
 An ill wife and a new lighted candle should hae their heads 
 
 hauden down. 
 Auid wives and bairns mak fools o' physicians. 
 Auld wives were aye gude maidens. 
 Bad legs and ill wives ought to stay at home. 
 Breeding wives are aye greening. 
 Choose thy wife amaug the virtuous, and thy friend amang the 
 
 wise. 
 
 Choose your wife on Saturday, and not on Sunday. 
 
 [Choose her for her everyday usefulness rather than for her appearance 
 on Sunday.] 
 
 Every man can guide an ill wife, but him that has her. 
 
 Fleas and a girning wife are wakerife bedfellows. 
 
 Greening wives are aye greedy. 
 
 He has faute o' a wife wha marries mam's pet. 
 
 \_Faute o\ need of. Mam's pet seldom proves a good wife.] 
 
 He that has a bonnie wife needs mair than twa een. 
 
 He that has a wife has a master. 
 
 He that has an ill wife should eat muckle but her. 
 
 \_Biet, without. Kelly says the jest is in the identity of the pronunciation 
 of Butter and But her, that is, without her.] 
 
 Lang tongued wives gang lang wi' bairn. 
 
 ["Applied to those who discover their projects, designs, and intentions, 
 long before they are put in execution." — Kelly r\ 
 
 Mak your wife a gowdspink, and she'll turn a waterwagtail. 
 
 Nae man can thrive unless his wife will let him. 
 
 Ne'er seek a wife till you hae got a house and a fire to put her 
 
 in. 
 
 Ne'er tak a wife till you ken what to do wi' her. 
 
 Next to nae wife, a gude wife is the best. 
 
 She's a wise wife that kens her ain weird. 
 
 She's the happiest wife that marries the son of a dead mother. 
 
 She that has an ill man shows it in her claes. 
 
 She'll wear like a horse shoe — the Linger the clearer.
 
 62 SCO TTJSH PR VERBS. 
 
 The death o' your first wife Jimde sic a hole in your heart that 
 a' the rest slipped through. 
 
 The gude or ill hap o' a gude or ill life, 
 Is the gude or ill choice o' a gude or ill wife. 
 There's ae gude wife in the warld, and ilka ane thinks he has 
 
 her. 
 Waes the wife that wants the tongue, but weels the man that 
 
 gets her. 
 Wives and water-mills are aye wanting. 
 Wives and wind are necessary evils. 
 Wives maun be had, whether gude or bad. 
 
 Wives maun hae their wills while they live, . 
 For they mak nane when they die. 
 You may drive thedeil into a wife, but you'll ne'er ding him out 
 
 o' her. 
 You would mak a gude wife — you haud the grip you get. 
 
 Maidens. 
 
 A dink maiden aft maks a dirty wife. 
 
 A fair maiden tocherless will get mae wooers than husbands. 
 
 A maid aft seen and a gown aft worn are disesteemed and held 
 
 in scorn. 
 A seven years' maiden is aye at the slight. 
 A tocherless dame stays lang at hame. 
 Ladies and turkeys need delicate upbringing 
 Lasses and glasses are bruckle wares. 
 Like the lassies o' Bayordie, ye learn by the lug. 
 
 Maidens should be mild and meek — 
 
 Quick to hear, and slow to speak. 
 Maidens should be mim till they're married, and then they may 
 burn kirks.
 
 IVORTHLESSNESS. 63 
 
 Maidens want naething but a husband, and then they want 
 
 every thing. 
 Maidens' bairns and bachelors' wives are aye weel bred. 
 Maidens' bairns are aye weel bred. 
 Maidens' tochers, and ministers' stipends, are aye less than 
 
 they 're ca'd. 
 
 Mealy mou'd maidens stand lang at the mill. 
 
 She has coosten a lagen-gird. 
 [She has borne a natural child.] 
 
 There are mair maidens than maukins. 
 
 They rin fast that deils and lasses drive. 
 
 Whistling maidens and crawing hens were ne'er very chancy. 
 
 Worth. 
 
 He's worth gowd that can win 't. 
 If a gude man thrive, a' thrives wi' him. 
 The first step to virtue is to love it in anither. 
 The worth o' a thing is best kent by the want o't. 
 The worth o' a thing is what it will bring. 
 Virtue ne'er grows auld. 
 
 We ne'er ken the worth o' water till the vrell be dry. 
 Worth has been under-rated ever since wealth has been over- 
 rated. 
 Worth may be blamed, but never shamed. 
 
 WORTHLESSNESS. 
 
 Never gude — egg nor bird. 
 
 Shame is past the shed o' your hair. 
 \_Shed, the parting.] 
 
 Some hae a hantle o' faults, — ye're only a ne'er-do-weel. 
 
 The day ye do weel there will be seven moons in the lift and 
 
 ane in the midden.
 
 64 SCO TTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 Ye're a widdiefou gin hanging time. 
 
 Ye're like a rotten nut, no worth cracking for the kernel. 
 
 Ye're like the tod— grey before ye're gude. 
 
 Ye're loose in the heft (handle). 
 
 Ye're no worth ca'ing out o' a kail-yard. 
 
 Ye'll die like a trooper's horse — wi' your shoon on. 
 
 Ye'll worry in the band, like M'Ewan's calf. 
 [You'll be hanged.] 
 
 Youth. 
 
 A raggit cowte aft maks a noble aiver. 
 
 Raw dauds mak fat lads. 
 
 Reckless youth maks ruefu' age. 
 
 Royet lads mak sober men. 
 
 Rule youth weel, and age will rule itsel. 
 
 The lazy lad maks a stark auld man.
 
 65 
 
 TRUISMS. 
 
 A bad wound may heal, but a bad name will kill. 
 
 A bald head is soon shaven. 
 
 A black hen lays a white egg. 
 
 A club foot winna mak a gude shinty. 
 
 A common blot is nae stain. 
 
 A constant guest is never welcome. 
 
 A cracket bell will never mend. 
 
 A craw is nae whiter for being washed. 
 
 A crooning cow, a crawing hen, and a whistling maiden were 
 
 ne'er very chancy. 
 A doctor and a clown kens mair than a doctor alane. 
 A fat kitchen maks a lean will. 
 A fat sow has eaten her ain banes. 
 A fou heart is aye kind, 
 A gien game was ne'er won. 
 A gien horse shouldna be looked in the mouth. 
 A groat is ill saved that shames its master. 
 A gude calf is better than a calf o' a gude kind. 
 A gude cow may hae an ill calf. 
 A gude grieve is better than an ill worker, 
 A gude name is better than a girdle o' gowd. 
 A gude tale 's no the waur o' being twice tauld. 
 F
 
 66 SCOTTISH PROVERBS. 
 
 A gude word before is worth iwa behind. 
 
 A gude word finds a gude place. 
 
 A gude year winna mak him, or an ill year break him. 
 "^[A. beggar will never be bankrupt.] 
 
 A guilty conscience needs nae accuser, a clear conscience fears 
 
 nane. 
 
 A hen that lays thereout should hae a white nest-egg. 
 
 [" A man given to extravagant amours in his single life has need to marry 
 a handsome wife to keep him at home." — Keliy.'] 
 
 A hook is weel tint to catch a salmon. 
 
 A horse wi' four feet may snapper. 
 [The best of men may err-] 
 
 A house built and a vine planted never sold for what they cost. 
 
 A kiss and a drink o' water mak but a wersh breakfast. 
 [Said by a girl when asked for a kiss.] 
 
 A lang tongue has a short hand. 
 
 [Those who promise most often do least.] 
 
 A layin hen is better than a stan'in mill. 
 
 A little body may hae a great soul. 
 
 A little pot is soon hot. 
 
 A man canna bear a' his ain kin about on his ain back. 
 
 A man has nae mair gudes than he gets gude o'. 
 
 A man may woo whare he will, but maun wed wharc his weird is. 
 
 A man's hat in his hand ne'er did him harm. 
 
 A moudiewort needs nae lantern. 
 
 A muffled cat was ne'er a gude mouser. 
 
 A new besom soops clean. 
 
 A new pair o' breeks will cast down an auld doublet. 
 
 [" Spoken when an old man marries a young woman."— AW/j'-j 
 
 A place at court is a constant bribe. 
 
 A pound o' woo is as heavy as a pound o' lead. 
 
 A raggit coat is armour against the robber. 
 
 A reproof is nae poison. 
 
 A rough bane maks a fou wame.
 
 TRUISMS. 67 
 
 A scalded cat dreads cauld water. 
 
 A short grace is gude for hungry folk. 
 
 A taking hand will ne'er want, let the world be e'er sae scant. 
 
 A tinkler ne'er was a town taker ; 
 
 A tailor was ne'er a hardy man. 
 
 Nor yet a wabster leal o' his trade : 
 
 Nor ever were since the warld began, 
 
 A wamefou "s a wamefou, were 't but o' bear- caff. 
 \Bear.caff, barley.chaff.] 
 
 A wee bush is better than nae beild. 
 
 A wee house has a muckle mouth. 
 
 A wee house has a wide throat. 
 
 A wee mouse will creep beneath a muckle corn stack. 
 
 A wild goose ne'er laid tame eggs. 
 
 A winter night, a woman's mind, and a laird's purpose aften 
 
 change. 
 A wonder lasts but nine days, and then the puppy's een are open. 
 A word is enough to the wise. 
 Ae man may tak a horse to the water, but twenty winna gar 
 
 him drink. 
 
 Ae hand is nae hand. 
 
 Ae rotten apple spoils its neighbour. 
 
 Ae scabbit sheep will smit a hail hirsell. 
 [Will infect a whole flock.] 
 
 Ae sheaf o' a stook is enough (as a specimen\ 
 
 Ae swallow doesna mak a simmer. 
 
 Ae turn weel done is twice done. 
 
 Ae vice is more expensive than mony virtues. 
 
 After a storm comes a calm. 
 
 After clouds comes fair weather. 
 
 Aft ettle, whiles hit. 
 
 A' are no thieves that dogs bark at.
 
 68 SCO TTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 A' complain o' want o' memory, but nane o' want o' judgment. 
 
 A' complain o' want o' siller, but nane o' want o' sense. 
 
 A' cracks maunna be trew'd. 
 
 A' ills are gude untried. 
 
 A' is no help that 's at hand. 
 
 A' is no tint that fa 's bye. 
 
 A' is no tint that 's in hazard. 
 
 A' is wee! that ends weel. 
 
 A' that ye '11 get will be a kist and a sheet, after a'. 
 
 [Referring to burial-] 
 
 A' the wit in the warld 's no in ae pow. 
 
 A' things are gude untried. 
 
 Amaist was ne 'er hanged. 
 
 Amendment is true repentance. 
 
 An auld horse may die waiting for the grass. 
 
 An auld pock is aye skailing. 
 
 An auld sack needs muckle clouting. 
 
 An eating horse ne'er foundered. 
 
 An honest occupation is the best patrimony. 
 
 An ill turn is soon done. 
 
 Ance is nae custom. 
 
 Ane is no sae soon healed as hurt. 
 
 Ane may do the skaith, and anither get the wyte. 
 
 Ane may like a haggis weel enough that would not like the bag 
 
 bladded on his chafts. 
 
 As ane flits anither sits, and that maks mailings dear. 
 
 As gude eat the deil as sup the kail he's boiled in. 
 
 As gude merchants tine as win. 
 
 As lang lasts the hole as the heal-leather, 
 
 \_A reply to those who direct attention to a hole in your shoe.] 
 
 As many castles hae been ta'en by clemency as cruelty. 
 
 As muckle upwith as muckle downwith.
 
 TRUISMS. 6 
 
 As the bag fills the drones rise. 
 
 As the market gaes, the wares maun sell. 
 
 As ye brew sae maun you drink. 
 
 Auld tods need nae tutors. 
 
 Avoid in yoursel what you blame in ithers. 
 
 Bairns' mither burst never. 
 
 [Because she will rather feed her children than herself.] 
 
 Bannocks are better than nae bread. 
 
 ' Because ' is a woman's reason. 
 
 Bees that hae honey in their mouths hae stings in their tails. 
 
 Beef-steaks and porter is gude belly mortar. 
 
 Better a bite in the morning than fast a' day. 
 
 Better a clout than a hole out. 
 
 Better a dog fawn on you than bark at you. 
 
 [" A child will be more cheerful upon being well-fed than new clothed." 
 -Kelly.'l 
 
 Better a finger aff than aye wagging. 
 
 Better a gude fame than a fair face. 
 
 Better a lean horse than a toom halter. 
 [Than none at all.] 
 
 Better a sair tae than a fause friend. 
 
 Better a sma fish than a empty dish. 
 
 Better a tocher in her than wi' her. 
 
 Better a toom house than an ill tenant. 
 
 Better a wee ingle to warm you than a muckle fire to burn you. 
 
 Better ae ee than hail blind. 
 
 Better ae pair o' heels than twa pair o' hands at a time. 
 
 Better auld debts than auld sairs. 
 
 Better bairns greet than bearded men. 
 
 Better be alane than in ill company. 
 
 Better be at the end o' a feast than at the beginning o' a fray. 
 
 Better be blythe wi' little than wi' naething.
 
 70 SCO TTISH PR VER BS. 
 
 Better be envied than pitied. 
 
 Better be friends at a distance than enemies at hame. 
 
 Better be kind than cumbersome. 
 
 Better be merry and spend a' than sad and hain naething. 
 
 Better be merry wi' something than sad wi' naething. 
 
 Better be the head o' the commons than the tail o' the gentry. 
 
 Better bow than break. 
 
 Better bow to my faes than beg frae my friends. 
 
 Better buy than borrow. 
 
 Better cry 'Feigh, saut,' than ' Feigh, stink.' 
 
 Better day the better deed. 
 
 Better do it than wish it done. 
 
 Better eat grey bread in youth than in eild. 
 
 Better be fed than bred. 
 
 Better filled than pricked. 
 [Said of a blood pudding.] 
 
 Better flatter a fool than fight him. 
 
 Better gang about than fa' in the dub. 
 
 Better gang to bed supperless than rise in debt. 
 
 Better gie the slight than tak it. 
 
 Better gude sale than gude ale. 
 
 Better hae than want. 
 
 Better half egg than toom doup. 
 [Than an empty shell.] 
 
 Better hands loose than in ill tethering. 
 
 Better happy at court than in good service. 
 
 Better haud out than put out. 
 
 Better haud wi' the hound than rin wi' the hare. 
 
 [" Better be able to grapple with a difficulty than to have a probability 
 to escape it." — Kelly ^ 
 
 Better idle ihan ill employed. 
 
 Better keep the deil without the door than drive him out o' the 
 
 house.
 
 TRUISMS. 71 
 
 Better keep weel than mak week 
 
 Better kiss a knave than cast out \vi' him. 
 
 Better late thrive than ne'er do v^^eeL 
 
 Better leave than lack, 
 
 [It is better to have too many of some things than too few.] 
 
 Better my bairns seek frae me, than I frae my bairns. 
 
 Better ne'er begun than ne'er ended. 
 
 Better ower't than on't. 
 
 [" An answer to him that says that he will give you o' er the head, that 
 is, break your head for you, as if O'er implied a distance, and On 
 fixed the blow.'' — Kelly. Better beyond danger than in it.] 
 
 Better play for nought than work for nought. 
 
 Better plays the fou wame than the new coat. 
 
 [" A child will be more cheerful upon being well-fed than new clothed." 
 —Kelly.'] 
 
 Better ride on an ass that carries you, than a horse that throw 
 
 you. 
 
 Better rue sit than rue flit. 
 
 [Better to remain where we are than to repent of removing.] 
 
 Better saut than sour. 
 
 Better saucht wi' little aught than care wi' mony cows. 
 
 [Better peace and comfort with little belonging to us than care with 
 much wealth.] 
 
 Better say ' Here it is ' than ' Here it was.' 
 
 Better skaiths saved than mends made. 
 
 [Better damage not done than reparation made for damage inflicted.] 
 
 Better sma fish than nae fish. 
 
 Better spared than ill spent. 
 
 Better the barn filled than the bed. 
 
 Better the ill ken'd than the ill unken'd. 
 
 Better thole a grumph than a sumph. 
 
 Better to find iron than tine siller. 
 
 Better to hae ae plough gaun than twa cradles. 
 
 Better to haud than draw. 
 
 Better to learn frae your neighbour's skaith than your ain.
 
 72 SCOTTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 Better to leave than want. 
 
 Better to sit still than rise and get a fa'. 
 
 Better twa skaiths than ae sorrow. 
 
 [Losses may be repaired, but sorrow may break the heart.] 
 
 Better unborn than untaught. 
 
 Better unkind than ower cumbersome. 
 
 Better wade back mid water than gang forward and be drowned. 
 
 Better weel liked than ill won gear. 
 
 Better you laugh than I greet. 
 
 Better your foot slip than your tongue. 
 
 Birk will burn, be it burn drawn ; , 
 
 Sauch will sab, if it were simmer sawn. 
 
 [Birch will burn though it be drawn through the stream ; willow, though 
 sawn in summer, will sob or make the palpitating motion made by 
 green wood in fire.] 
 
 Bite not my bannock. 
 
 Bitter pills may hae blessed effects. 
 
 Bluid's thicker than water. 
 
 Bode gude and get it. 
 
 Bonnie sport, to fare weel and pay nothing for't. 
 
 Bread and milk is bairn's meat : I wish them sorrow that loe it. 
 
 Broken bread and brown ale winna bide lang. 
 
 Busy folk are aye meddling. 
 
 Buy what ye dinna want, and ye'U sell what ye canna spare. 
 
 Ca' your gudeman a cuckold in fun, and he'll no believe you. 
 
 ' Can do,' is easy carried about. 
 
 Canna has nae craft. 
 
 Care will kill a cat, yet there 's nae living without it. 
 
 Carls and cart aivers win all :— carls and cart aivers spend all. 
 [" Servants wages, buying and keeping of horses, and purchasing other 
 utensils, eat up the product of a farm." — Kelly.'] 
 
 Cast you ower the house riggin, and ye'll fa' on your feet.
 
 TRUISMS, 73 
 
 Cauld kail het again, that I liked never ; 
 
 Auld love renewed again, that I liked ever. 
 Cauld parritch are sooner het again than new anes made. 
 Censure is the tax a man pays to the public for being eminent. 
 Changes o' wark is a lightening o' hearts. 
 Charity begins at hame. 
 
 Clawing is bad : it begins wi' pleasure and ends wi' pain. 
 Clippet sheep will grow again. 
 Come when ye 're ca'd, and ye'U no be chidden. 
 Command your passions, or they will command you. 
 Common fame is seldom to blame. 
 Condition makes, condition breaks. 
 Corn him weel, he'll work the better. 
 Counsel is nae command. 
 Custom is a second nature. 
 
 Daming and laving is gude sure fishing. 
 
 [A mode of catching fish by damming and diverting the course of the 
 stream, and then laving or throwing out the water, so as to get at 
 the fish.] 
 
 Danger past, God forgotten. 
 
 Daub yoursel wi' honey and ye'll ne'er want flies. 
 
 Daylight will keek through a sma hole. 
 
 Dead men are freed men. 
 
 Diet cures mair than the doctors. 
 
 Do you think you see a clear thing ? 
 
 Dolour pays nae debts. 
 
 Eagles flee alane, but sheep herd thegither. 
 
 Eggs will be in three bellies in four-and-twenty hours. 
 
 Eith learned, soon forgotten. 
 
 Enough's enough o' bread and cheese. 
 
 Envy aye shoots at a high mark.
 
 74 SCO TTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 Equity judgeth with lenity, law with severity. 
 
 Ever busy, ever bare. 
 
 Every bird thinks its ain nest best. 
 
 Every dog has his day, a bitch twa afternoons. 
 
 Every state is worm's meat. 
 
 Every man has his weak side. 
 
 Every man kens best whare his ain sair lies. 
 
 Every man's man had a man, and that gar'd the Trave fa.' 
 
 ['• Thfe Trave was a strong castle built by black Douglas. The governor 
 left a deputy, and he a substitute, by whose negligence the castle 
 was taken and burned. Spoken when servants employ other 
 servants to do the business that they were entrusted with, and both 
 neglect it." — Kelly.'] 
 
 Every man's nose winna be a shoeing horn. 
 
 [" Every man is not to be imposed on, or made a property of." — Kelly.'] 
 
 Every thing has a beginning. 
 
 Every thing has an end, and a puddin has twa. 
 
 Every thing has its time, and sae has the rippling-kame. 
 
 Every thing is the waur o' the wear. 
 
 Evil words cut raair than swords. 
 
 Evil words scald not the tongue. 
 
 Fair hair may hae foul roots. 
 Fairly and saftly gaes far journeys. 
 Four-and-twenty tailors canna mak a man. 
 
 Gin If s and And's were pats and pans, what would tinklers do ? 
 
 Great bodies move slowly. 
 
 Greatness may big the monument, but goodness maun gie the 
 
 epitaph. 
 Great pains and little gains soon mak a man weary. 
 Great tochers makna aye the greatest testaments. 
 Gude men are the masters o' their pleasures, bad men are the 
 
 slaves o' theirs.
 
 TRUISMS. 75 
 
 ' Had I a fish ' was ne'er gude wi' garlic. 
 * Hae ' is half fou. 
 
 Hae you gear, or hae you nane, 
 
 Tine heart, and a' is gane. 
 
 Hame is a hamely name. 
 
 Hankering and hanging on is but a poor trade. 
 
 He can ill rin that canna gang. 
 
 He has got a knight's boon aff her. 
 [He has debauched her.] 
 
 He has it o' kind, he coft it not. 
 [He inherited it by birth.] 
 
 He has spur metal in him. 
 
 [He's a fit subject for the spur. He is lazy.] 
 
 He has the best memory wha minds every thing but an injury. 
 
 He has wit at will, that when angry can sit him still. 
 
 He is the slave o' a' slaves wha serves nane but himsel. 
 
 He's a fool that forgets himsel. 
 
 He's a gentle horse that ne'er threw his rider. 
 
 He's a gude gunner that aye hits the mark. 
 
 He's a mere couching carl for a' his manly. 
 
 He's a proud beggar that maks his ain awmous. 
 
 He's a silly body that's never missed. 
 
 He's a silly chield that can neither do nor saj'. 
 
 He's but daft that has to do, and spares for every speech. 
 
 He's free o' his fruits that wants an orchard. 
 \^lVa7its, is without.] 
 
 He's gude that failed never. 
 
 He's like a flea in a blanket. 
 
 He's out and in like a dog at a fair. 
 
 He's poor enough wha's ill-far'd. 
 
 He's sairest dang whase ain wand dang him. 
 
 He's unco fou in his ain house that canna eat a potatoe in his 
 
 neighbour's.
 
 76 SCOTTISH PR VERBS, 
 
 He's weel eased that has o' his ain. 
 
 He's worth gowd wha can gain it. 
 
 He's worth nae weel that bides nae wae. 
 
 He kens the loan frae the crown o' the causey as weel as the 
 
 duck does the midden-hole frae the addle-dub. 
 
 Help for help in hairst. 
 
 Help is gude at a' thing, except at the cog. 
 [Except in taking our food.] 
 
 He maun be a useless gudeman that's ne'er missed. 
 
 He maun hae leave to speak wha canna haud his tongue. 
 
 He maun rise soon that pleases a' body. 
 
 He may be trusted wi' a house fu' o' millstones. 
 
 Herschip in the highlands ! the hens are i' the corn ; if the cock 
 
 gets in, it will ne'er be shorn. 
 
 Het supper, het swallow. 
 
 He that avoids temptation avoids the sin. 
 
 He that blaws in the stour fills his ain een. 
 
 He that buys land buys stanes; 
 
 He that buys beef buys banes ; 
 
 He that buys nuts buys shells ; 
 
 He that buys good ale buys naething else. 
 He that can bear Dumbuck may bear Dumbarton. 
 He that canna confer a favour maun seek ane unfairly. 
 He that canna mak sport should mar nane. 
 He that comes o' the hens maun scrape. 
 He that counts before the hostler counts twice. 
 He that deceives me ance, shame fa' him ; he that deceives me 
 
 twice, shame fa' me. 
 He that does bidden deserves nae dinging. 
 He that draws his sword against his prince may throw awa the 
 
 scabbard. 
 He that forsakes measure, measure forsakes him.
 
 TRUISMS. 77 
 
 He that grapes in the dark may fyle his fingers. 
 
 He that has a fellow-ruler has an over-ruler. 
 
 He that has a goose will get a goose. 
 
 He that has a gude crap may bear wi' some thistles. 
 
 He that has ane lytill hors, seine may he fall ; 
 
 And he that has ane deife boy, lowde may he call ; 
 
 And he that has ane fair wyfe, sair may he dreide 
 
 Ither menis bairnes to foster and to feide. 
 
 He that has but ae ee maun tent it weel. 
 
 He that has gowd may buy land. 
 
 He that has the langest sword is aye thought in the right. 
 
 He that has twa hoards is able to get a third. 
 
 He that hews aboon his head may get a spale in his ee. 
 
 [He that aims at things beyond his power may be ruined by his project.] 
 
 He that hides is best o' seeking. 
 
 He that 's far frae his gear is near to his skaith. 
 
 He that 's first up 's no aye first sair'd. 
 
 He that 's rede for windlestraes should never sleep on leas. 
 
 He that keeps the cat's dish keeps her aye crying. 
 
 He that kisses his wife at the market-cross will hae mony to 
 
 teach him. 
 
 He that lends money to a friend has a double loss. 
 [Because he loses both his money and his friend.] 
 
 He that lets his horse drink at every lake, and his wife gang to 
 every wake, will ne'er want a whore nor a jade. 
 
 He that lippens to chance lippens his back to a slap. 
 
 He that lippens to lent ploughs, his land will lie lea. 
 
 He that lives in a glass house shouldna cast stones at his neigh- 
 hour. 
 
 He that liveth weel liveth lang. 
 
 He that looks not ere he loups will fa' ere he wat. 
 
 He that meddles wi' tuilyies may come in for the redding-stroke.
 
 78 SCO TTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 He that never eats flesh thinks harigalds a feast. 
 
 He that oppresses honesty ne'er had any. 
 
 He that pays last ne'er pays twice. 
 
 He that pities another minds himsel. 
 
 He that rides ahint anither doesna saddle when he pleases. 
 
 He that says what he likes will hear what he doesna like. 
 
 He that sells his wares for words maun live on wind. 
 
 He that shows his purse bribes the thief. 
 
 He that sleeps wi' dogs maun rise wi' flaes. 
 
 [He that keeps bad company will be the worse for it.] 
 
 He that speaks to himsel speaks to a fool. 
 
 He that spits against the wind spits in his ain face. 
 
 He that swims in sin will sink in sorrow. 
 
 He that tholes overcomes. 
 
 He that tines his siller is thought to hae tint his wit. 
 
 He that waits for a dead man's shoon gaes lang barefit. 
 
 He that wants content canna sit easy in his chair. 
 
 He that wears black maun wear a brush on his back. 
 
 He that will be angry for ony thing will be angry for naething. 
 
 He that would pu' the sweet rose maun sometimes be scarted 
 
 wi' the thorns. 
 
 He'll either mak a spoon or spill a horn. 
 
 He'll either win the horse or tine the saddle. 
 
 He'll put ower the borrowing days. 
 
 [" Spoken upon some hopes of our sick friend's recovery ; taken from 
 weak cattle, who if they outlive the first nine days of April, we hope 
 they will not die." — Kelly. '\ 
 
 He'll soon be a beggar that canna say ' Na.' 
 
 He'll tell't to nae mae than he meets. 
 
 High trees show mair leaves than fruit. 
 
 Highest in the court nearest the widdie. 
 
 His auld brass will buy her a new pan. 
 
 [Said of a young woman who marries a rich old man, because when he 
 is dead his wealth will get her another husband.]
 
 TRUISMS. 79 
 
 Hope is the dream o' a waking man. 
 
 I can see as far into a millstane as he that picked it. 
 
 I could hae done that mysel, but no sae weel. 
 
 I hae my meat and my mense. 
 
 [My offer not being accepted, I have at least the credit of having made 
 it.] 
 
 I hae seen mony a smaller Madam. 
 
 [" Used in former times by ordinary women to them who called them 
 mistress. The jest lies in the double signification of the word 
 Smaller, which may mean less in bulk or lower in station." — Kelly. 1 
 
 I tint the stafif I herded wi'. 
 
 ["Spoken churlishly when we are asked what is become of such a thing; 
 arguing that we were not obliged to keep it." — Kelly.'] 
 
 I'll do as the man did wha sold his land — I'll no do it again. 
 
 I'll no tell a lie for scant o' news. 
 
 I'll pay you and put naething in your pouch. 
 [I'll give you a thrashing.] 
 
 * I winna mak a toil o' a pleasure,' quo' the man when he buried 
 
 his wife. 
 
 I wish ye had drank water when ye drank that drap drink. 
 
 I wish you had wist what you said. 
 
 I would rather see't than hear tell o't, as blind Pate said. 
 
 If a' be weel, I'll be wyteless 
 
 '" ~ Doken with a suspicic 
 land in it." — Kelly.'] 
 
 If better were within, better would come out. 
 
 If I had you at Maggy Mill's house, I would get word about wi' 
 
 [" Spoken with a suspicion that all will not be well, and if so I have no 
 ha 
 
 you. 
 ["Spoken when we are in a presence where it does not become us to 
 speak. It took its rise from a country fellow, who, hearing his 
 minister in the pulpit say something that he thought reflected on him, 
 bawled out this proverb, thinking that if he was at the alehouse with 
 him he would tell him his own." — Kelly.] 
 
 If I hae done amiss, I'll mak amends. 
 
 If I was at my ain burn-foot. 
 
 If it sair me to wear, it may sair you to look at. 
 
 If it wasna for the belly the back would wear gowd.
 
 So SCOTTISH PROVERBS. 
 
 If she sair me to live wi', she may sair you to look at. 
 
 If the auld wife hadna been in the oven hersel, she ne'er would 
 
 hae thought o' seeking her dochter there. 
 
 If ye win at that, ye'll lose at naething. 
 
 If you be angry, sit laigh and mease you. 
 
 If you be not galled you need not fling. 
 
 If you had been anither, I would hae denied you at the first word. 
 
 If you sell the cow, you sell her milk too. 
 
 If you trust before you try, ye'll repent before you die. 
 
 If youth knew what age would crave, it would baith get and save. 
 
 Ifs and Ands spoil mony a gude charter. 
 
 Ilka bird maun hatch its ain egg. 
 
 Ill hearing maks ill rehearsing. 
 
 In a great frost a nail is worth a horse. 
 
 It has nae ither father but you. 
 
 It's a careless parting between an auld mare and a crazy car. 
 
 It's a friend that ruses you. 
 
 [Said when we hear one speak well of himself.] 
 
 It's a gude game that fills the wame. 
 
 It's a rare matter for siller to lack a master. 
 
 It's a sair time when the mouse looks out o' the meal barrel wi' 
 
 the tear in its ee. 
 
 It's a sooth dream that's seen waking. 
 
 It's a sort of favour to be denied at first. 
 
 It's a sour reek when the gudewife dings the gudeman. 
 
 It's a tight tree that has neither gnarl nor gaw. 
 
 It's an ill warld that canna gie us a bite and a brat. 
 
 It's best travelling wi' a horse in your hand. 
 
 It's better to keep a cow than an ass. 
 
 It's but a year sooner to the begging. 
 
 [" Facetiously spoken, when we design to be at a little more expense than 
 we thought."— A>//y.]
 
 TRUISMS. 
 
 It's clean about the wren's door when there's nought within. 
 
 ["An answer to them who tell us that their house or doors are not clean 
 enough, as if we should say you have children, cattle, and things 
 going out and in." — Kelly. ~\ 
 
 It's eith to learn you a gude use. 
 
 It's God that feeds the craws, that neither tills, harrows, nor saws. 
 
 It's gude fighting under a buckler. 
 
 It's gude to begin weel, but better to end weel. 
 
 It's gude to hae your cog out when it rains kail. 
 [Make hay while the sun shines.] 
 
 s ill 'praising green barley. 
 {^praising, valuing, setting a price upon.] 
 
 s ill kitchen that keeps the bread awa. 
 
 s ill limping before cripples. 
 
 s ill taking corn frae geese. 
 
 s ill to put a blythe face upon a black heart. 
 
 s ill your kytes common. 
 I" I have deserved better of you, because I have often filled your belly." 
 ~Kdly.-\ 
 
 s kittle wark for the cheeks when a hurl'barrow gaes ower the 
 
 brig o' the nose. 
 
 s lang ere four bare legs gather heat in a bed. 
 [Said of those who get married with but little to live upon.] 
 
 3 lang or ' like to die ' fills the kirk-yard. 
 
 s lang or you cry ' Schou ' to an ^gg. 
 
 s lang to Lammas. 
 
 s nae play when ane laughs and anither greets. 
 
 s needless to bid a wren rin. 
 
 s needless to mak twa bites o' a cherry. 
 
 s needless to pour water on a drowned mouse. 
 
 s neither rhyme nor reason. 
 
 s ne'er ower late for repentance. 
 
 s no a' gowd that glitters. , 
 
 s no aye tint that fa's by.
 
 82 SCO TTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 It's no for naething the cat licket the stane. 
 
 It's no for naething the gled whistles. 
 
 It's no the burden but the over-burden that kills the beast. 
 
 It's no the cowl that maks the friar. 
 
 It's no the creaking cart that's soonest coupet. 
 
 It's no the rumbling cart that fa's first ower the brae. 
 [It's not the likeliest person that dies first.] 
 
 It's no tint that comes at last. 
 
 It's ower late to cast the anchor when the ship's on the rock. 
 
 It's ower late to jouk when the head's aff. 
 
 It's ower late to lout when the head's got a clout. 
 
 It's past joking when the head's aff. 
 
 It's the life of an auld hat to be weel cocket. 
 
 It's weel your faults are no written on your forehead. 
 
 It may be true what some men say, but it maun be true what a' 
 
 men say. 
 It was ne'er a gude aiver that flung at the broose. 
 It would be a hard task to follow a black dockit sow through a 
 
 burnt moor this night. 
 It would do a blind man gude to see 't. 
 
 Keep your tongue a prisoner, and your body will gang free. 
 
 Lacking breeds laziness, but praise breeds pith. 
 
 Laith to bed, laith to rise. 
 
 Lang fasting gathers wind. 
 
 Lang lean maks hamald cattle. 
 
 Lang or you cut Falkland Wood wi' a penknife. 
 
 [Said when people begin a work without proper tools, or enter upon a 
 large undertaking without sufficient means.] 
 
 Lang sick, soon weel. 
 
 Lang speaking, part maun spill.
 
 TRUISMS. 83 
 
 Langest at the fire soonest finds cauld. 
 
 Lean liberty is better than fat slavery. 
 
 Let alane maks a loon. 
 
 Let alane maks mony lurdanes. 
 
 Listen at a hole, and ye'U hear news o' yoursel. 
 
 Little and often fills the purse. 
 
 Little gear is soon spent. 
 
 Little meddling maks fair parting. 
 
 Little straiks fell muckle aiks. 
 
 Little wit in the head maks muckle travel to the heel. 
 
 [Unskilful persons put themselves to more trouble than is necessarj'.'J 
 
 Little wit in the head that lights the candle at the red (the fire) 
 
 ' Likely ' lies aft in the mire, when ' unlikely ' gets through. 
 
 Love of admiration is the child of vanity. 
 
 Mair pride than pith. 
 
 ^lair show than substance. 
 
 Mak a wrang step and ye'U fa' to the bottom. 
 
 Man propones, but God dispones. 
 
 May he that turns the clod ne'er want a bannock. 
 
 Meddle wi' your match. 
 
 ^Meat and measure mak a' men wise. 
 
 Men speak o' the fair as things went there. 
 
 INIettle is kittle in a blind horse. 
 
 Mocking is catching. 
 
 Mony ane blames their wife for their ain unthrift. 
 
 Mony ane kens the gudefallow, that doesna ken the gudefallow's 
 
 wife. 
 Mony ane maks an errand to the ha' to bid my lady gude day, 
 Mony ane opens his pack and sells nae wares. 
 Mony ane speaks o' Robin Hood, that ne'er shot wi' his bow. 
 i\Iony ane speirs the gate that ken fu' week
 
 84 SCO TTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 Mony ane would blush to hear what they are no ashamed 
 to do. 
 
 Mony ane's coat saves their doublet. 
 
 [Spoken when clerg^'men use you saucily, whom, in deference to their 
 profession, you will not beat, as if you would say, " Were it not for 
 your coat, Sir, &:c."— AW/y.] 
 
 Mony ane wytes their wife for their ain thoughtless life. 
 
 Mony care for meal that hae broken bread aneugh. 
 
 Mony fair promises at the marriage-making, but few at the 
 
 tocher paying. 
 
 Mony gude nights laith awa. 
 
 Mony hands mak light wark. 
 
 Mony irons in the fire, some maun cool. 
 
 Mony says ' weel' when it ne'er was waur. 
 
 Mony ways o' killing a dog without hanging him. 
 
 Mony words fill not the firlot. 
 
 Mony words would hae muckle drink. 
 
 Muckle gude may it do you and merry go down, with every lump 
 as big as my thumb. 
 
 Muckle maun a gude heart thole. 
 
 Muckle musing mars the memory. 
 
 Muckle pleasure, some pain. 
 
 Muckle power maks mony enemies. 
 
 Muckle skaith comes to the shae before the heat comes to the 
 
 My tongue is no under your belt. 
 
 [" You can say nothing of me that can mike me hold my tongue." — 
 Kelly :\ 
 
 Nae cows, nae care. 
 
 Nae fleeing without wings. 
 
 Nae force against the flail. 
 
 Nae man is wise at a' times, nor wise on a' things. 
 
 Nae man likes fetters, though they be forged in gowd.
 
 TRUISMS. 85 
 
 Nae mills, nae meal. 
 
 Nae siller, nae service. 
 
 Naething dries sae fast as a woman's tears. 
 
 Naething enters into a close neive. 
 
 Naething is ill said, if it's no ill taen. 
 
 Naething sooner males a man look auld, than sitting ill jo his 
 
 meat. 
 
 {To sit ill to ones meat, to be ill fed.] 
 
 Nane can play the fool sae weel as a wise man. 
 
 Nature passeth nurture. 
 
 Need maks virtue. 
 
 Never venture, never win. 
 
 New lairds hae new laws. 
 
 Night is the mither o' thoughts. 
 
 Now-a-days truth is news. 
 
 O' 'busing comes using. 
 
 O' a' trades, the poet is fondest o' his wark. 
 
 O' little meddling comes muckle care. 
 
 Opportunities mak a thief. 
 
 Our first breath is the beginning o' death. 
 
 Ower narrow counting culyies nae kindness. 
 
 Patch and lang sit, build and soon flit. 
 
 Paterson's mare aye gaes foremost. 
 
 Pay before hand was ne'er weel sair'd. 
 
 Pearls are nae paste. 
 
 Play carl wi' me again, if you dare. 
 {Play carl again, return a blow.] 
 
 Plenty is nae plague. 
 
 Poorly sits, richly warms. 
 
 Practice maks perfectness.
 
 86 SCO TTISII PR VERBS. 
 
 Put the poor man's penny and the rich man's penny in ae purse, 
 
 and they'll draw thegither. 
 Put the poor man's penny and the rich man's penny in ae purse, 
 
 and they'll come out alike. 
 
 Quick returns mak rich merchants. 
 
 Quho so biggeth his hous all of swallowis, 
 And prickcth a blind hors ower the followis, 
 And suffereth his wife to seek hollowis, — 
 Is wordie to be hanget on the gallowis. 
 
 Reek follows the fairest, bear witness to the crook. 
 [Excellence is accompanied by envy.] 
 
 Right mixture maks gude mortar. 
 
 Right, Rab : swine are gude mutton. • 
 
 Right wrangs nae man. 
 
 Rome wasna built in ae day. 
 
 Sae mony countries, sae mony customs. 
 
 * Safe ' is the word. 
 
 ' Sail ' quo' the king : ' Haud ' quo' the wind. 
 
 Sair cravers are aye ill payers. 
 
 Sairy be your meal-pock, and aye your neive in the neuk o't. 
 
 Sairy man, and then he grat. 
 
 Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. 
 
 Saw you that, and shotna at it, and you sae gleg a gunner ? 
 
 Say aye ' No,' and ye '11 ne'er be married. 
 
 Saying gangs cheap. 
 
 Say weel and do weel, end wi' ae letter : 
 
 Say weel is gude, but do weel is better. 
 ' Scant o' cheeks ' maks a lang nose.
 
 TRUISMS. 87 
 
 * Scant o' grace ' hears lang preachings. 
 
 Scarting and nipping is Scotch folks' wooing. 
 
 Scotchmen are aye wise ahint the hand. 
 
 Scotchmen aye reckon frae an ill hour. 
 
 Scotchmen aye tak their mark frae mischief. 
 
 [Reckon from the occurrence of an accident or other misfortune.] 
 
 Second thoughts are best. 
 
 Seek muckle and get something, 
 
 Seek little and get naething. 
 Seek till you find, and ye '11 no lose your labour. 
 Seek your sa' (salve), whare you got your sair. 
 Seek your sa' whare you got your ail, and buy your barm whare 
 
 you buy your ale. 
 
 * Seldom ride ' tines his spurs. 
 
 Send your gentle blood to the market, and see what it will buy. 
 Set a stool in the sun, as ae rogue rises anither sits down. 
 Shallow waters mak maist din. 
 
 * Shame fa' the couple,' quo' the cow to her feet. 
 Sharp sauce gies a gude taste to sweetmeats. 
 She's an auld wife that wats her ain weird. 
 
 She that taks a gift, hersel she sells : 
 
 And she tKat gies ane, does naething else. 
 Show me the guest that the house is the waur o\ 
 Show me the man, and I'll show you the law. 
 Shod in the cradle and barefit in the stable. 
 Slow fires mak sweet meat. 
 Smooth waters run deepest. 
 
 Sodgers, fire, and water soon mak room for themsels. 
 Sober, neighbour ! the night 's but young yet. 
 Soon enough to cry Chuck ! when its out o' the shell. 
 Soon het, soon cauld. 
 Soon ripe, soon rotten.
 
 88 SCO TTISH PR J 'ERBS. 
 
 Sorrow be on the hands that held sae weel to your head. 
 [Said to drunken men when they are ill-natured.] 
 
 Sorrow shake you out o' the wabster's handiwark. 
 [Out of your clothes.] 
 
 Souters and tailors work by the hour. 
 
 [" Spoken when people offer to break company because such an hour is 
 past."— AV/<y.] 
 
 Souters shouldna be sailors, wha can neither steer nor row. 
 
 Speech is the midwife o' the mind. 
 
 Spit in your loof, and haud fast. 
 
 Spit on a stane and it will weet at last. 
 
 Spit on 't, and ca 't thegither wi' a stane. 
 
 Stown dunts are sweetest. 
 
 Strike as you feed, and that's but soberly. 
 
 Stuffing hauds out the storm. 
 
 [" Advising: men to take some good thing before they travel in a bad day." 
 —Kelly.'] 
 
 Stay and drink your browst. 
 
 ["Take a share of the mischief that you have occasioned." — Kelly.] 
 
 Sticking gangs' not by strength, but by the right use o' the gully. 
 
 Tak part o' the pelf when the pack is a-dealing, 
 
 Tak your will o't, as the cat did o' the haggis. 
 
 Tak your will, you're wise enough. 
 
 Tear ready, tail ready. 
 
 That's the best gown that gaes up and down the house. 
 
 The ass that's no used to the sunks bi es his crupper. 
 
 The banes bear the beef hame. 
 
 The best is aye the cheapest. 
 
 The better day, the better deed. 
 
 [Said to disarm criticism for doing an ill thing on Sunday.] 
 
 The biggest horse is no aye the best traveller. 
 
 The bird maun flichter that has but ae wing. 
 
 The blind man's peck should be weel measured. 
 
 The book o' numbers is very braid.
 
 TRUISMS. 89 
 
 The cat kens whase lips she licks. 
 
 The counterfeit cunzie shows mair gilding than gowd. 
 
 The cow may die ere the grass grow. 
 
 The cow may want her tail yet. 
 
 ["You may want my kindness hereafter though you deny me yours 
 now." — Kelly. '\ 
 
 The cure may be waur than the disease. 
 
 The day has een, the night has lugs. 
 
 The deil's journeyman ne'er wants wark. 
 
 The dorty dame may fa' in the dirt. 
 
 The farer ben the welcomer — (Highland hospitality.) 
 
 The farer in the deeper. 
 
 The father buys, the son biggs, the oye sells, and his son thiggs. 
 
 The feathers carried awa the flesh. 
 
 [" Spoken to fowlers when they come home empty." — Kelly.'] 
 
 The first thing that a bare gentleman asks in the morning is a 
 
 needle and a thread. 
 
 The flesh is aye fairest that's farest frae the bane. 
 
 The gude dog getsna aye the gude bane. 
 
 The higher you climb, the greater the fa'. 
 
 The horse shoe that clatters wants a nail. 
 
 The kirk is aye greedy. 
 
 The kirk is muckle, but you may say mass in the end o't. 
 
 [" Spoken when people say something is too much, intimating that they 
 need take no more than they have use for." — Kelly.'] 
 
 The langest day will hae an end. 
 
 The man may eithly tine a stot that canna count his kine. 
 
 The mither's breath is aye sweet. 
 
 The moudiewort feedsna on midges. 
 
 The muck midden is the mither o' the meal kist. 
 
 The nearer e'en, the mae beggars. 
 
 [A jocular allusion to the company being increased by the arrival of more 
 visitors.] 
 
 The nearer the bane, the sweeter the flesh.
 
 90 SCOTTISH PROVERBS. 
 
 The nearer the rock, the sweeter the grass. 
 
 The nobler the heart, the soupler the neck. 
 
 The piper wants muckle that wants the nether chaft. 
 
 [" Spoken when a thing is wanting that is absolutely necessary." — Kelly-'\ 
 
 The rat that has but ae hole is soon catched. 
 
 The shortest road is whare the company is gude. 
 
 The simple man 's the beggar's brither. 
 
 The smith's mare, and the souter's wife, are aye warst shod. 
 
 The snail is as soon at its rest as the swallow. 
 
 The still sow eats up the draff. 
 
 The stout horse gets aye the hard wark. 
 
 The sun is nae waur for shining on the midden. 
 
 The thing that liesna in your gate breaksna your shins. 
 
 \_Gaie, way.] 
 
 The thing that's in your wame is no in your testament. 
 
 The tod ne'er speeds better than when he gangs his ain errand. 
 [It's best to go about your business yourself.] 
 
 The tree doesna fa' at the first stroke. 
 
 The trick the cowte gets when he's backing while he lives will 
 
 ne'er be lacking. 
 The warst warld ever was some man wan. 
 The wolf may lose his teeth, but never his nature. 
 There are mair knavery by sea and land than a' the earth 
 
 besides. 
 There are mair knaves in my kin than honest men in yours. 
 There are mair married than gude house hauders. 
 There are mair wark days than life days. 
 There are mair ways than ane o' keeping the craws frae the 
 
 stack. 
 There are nane sae weel shod but may slip. 
 There are three things in a' things. 
 There belangs mair to a bed than four bare legs.
 
 TRUISMS. 91 
 
 There belangs mair to a ploughman than whistling. 
 
 There grows nae grass at the market-cross. 
 
 There's a difference between the piper and his bitch. 
 
 There's a dub at ilka door and at some doors twa. 
 
 There's a flae in my hose. 
 [I am in trouble.] 
 
 There's a great difference between fend and fare-weel. 
 
 There's a gude and a bad side in every thing : a' the art is to 
 
 find it out. 
 
 There's a time to gley, and a time to look even. 
 
 There's a word in my wame, but it's far down. 
 
 [Said by one who is at a loss for the right word to use ; or it may mean 
 ' I could say something but I wont.'] 
 
 There's an end o' a lang story. 
 
 There's as gude fish in the sea as ever cam out o't. 
 
 There's little for the rake after the shook 
 
 There's little sap in a dry pea-shaup. 
 
 There's mae ways o' killing a dog besides hanging him. 
 
 There's mae ways to the wood than ane. 
 
 There's mair knavery amang kinsmen than honesty amang 
 
 courtiers. 
 
 There's mair room without than within. 
 [An apology for breaking wind.] 
 
 There's nae birds this year in the last year's nest. 
 
 There's nae breard like the midden breard. 
 
 [Applied to people of low birth who suddenly rise to wealth and 
 honour.] 
 
 There's nae hair sae sma but has its shadow. 
 
 There's nae hawk soars sae high but he will stoop to some lure. 
 
 There's nae iron sae hard but rust will fret it. 
 
 There's nae claith sae fine but moths will eat it. 
 There's nae sport whare there's neither auld folk nor bairns. 
 There's nae sun sae bright but clouds will owercast it. 
 There's nae woo sae course but it will tak some colour.
 
 92 SCOTTISH PROVERBS. 
 
 There's ower mony nicks in your horn. 
 [You're far too cunning.] 
 
 There's naething comes out o' an oulie pig but an ill smell. 
 {Oulie pig, an oil vessel.] 
 
 There 's naething sae like an honest man as an arrant knave. 
 
 There 's nane deceived but them wha trust. 
 
 There 's nane sae blind as them that winna see. 
 
 There 's nane sae busy as them that hae least to do. 
 
 There 's nane sae deaf as them that winna hear. 
 
 There 's ne'er a great feast but some fare ill. 
 
 There 's reason in the roasting o' eggs. 
 
 There 's twa enoughs, and ye hae gotten ane o' them. 
 
 [" That is, big enough and little enough ; meaning that he had got little 
 enough : An answer to them who out of modesty say they have 
 enough." — Kelly. ~\ 
 
 There '^ twa things in my mind and that 's the least o' them. 
 [''A kind of a supercilious denial of a request." — Kelly.'\ 
 
 There ne'er came ill frae a gude advice. 
 
 There ne'er is a height but there is a howe at the bottom o't. 
 
 There ne'er was a cake but had a make (match). 
 
 There ne'er was a fair word in flyting. 
 
 There ne'er was a gude town but had a dub at the end o't. 
 [Every path hath its puddle.] 
 
 There was anither gotten the night that you was born. 
 [If you will not serve me another will.] 
 
 There was mair loss at the Shirramuir, whare the Highlandman 
 
 lost his father and his mother, and a gude buff belt worth 
 
 them baith. 
 
 [The reference is to the battle of Sheriffmuir between the English and 
 Highlanders in 1715. The proverb is spoken when one meets with 
 a paltry loss,] 
 
 They are lightly harried that hae a' their ain. 
 
 They are no to be named in the same day. 
 
 They are sad rents that come in wi' tears. 
 
 [" An answer to them who seeing your clothes ragged, say * Your rents are 
 coming in.' Taken from the double signification of the two words 
 Rents and Tears." — Kelly.'\
 
 TRUISMS. 93 
 
 They 're no a' saints that get the name o't. 
 
 They 're scarce o' horse-flesh that ride on the dog. 
 
 They hae nac need o' a turnspit that hae only an egg to their 
 
 dinner. 
 They hae need o' a canny cook that hae but ae egg to their 
 
 dinner. 
 They need muckle that naething will content. 
 They ne'er saw a haggis wha think a puddin a feast. 
 They that drink langest live langest. 
 They that live langest fetch wood farest. 
 
 They that see you in daylight winna rin awa wi' you in the dark. 
 They that see you in daylight winna break the house for you at 
 
 night. 
 
 [The two preceeding spoken to ugly women.] 
 
 They that stay in the howe will ne'er mount the height. 
 
 They think a calf a muckle beast that never saw a cow. 
 
 Tine cat, tine game. 
 
 ['•An allusion to a play called Cat P the Hole, and the English Kit, Cat. 
 Spoken when men at law have lost their principal evidence." — Kelly. '\ 
 
 To hain is to hae. 
 
 To promise is ae thing, to keep it is anither. 
 
 Toom sta's make biting horses. 
 
 Touch a gall'd horse and he'll fling. 
 
 Tramp on a worm and it will turn. 
 
 [The meanest when injured will shew resentment.] 
 
 Twa blacks winna mak a white. 
 
 'Twa heads are better than ane,' as the wife said, when she and 
 
 her dog gaed to the market. 
 Twa heads are better than ane, though they were only sheep 
 
 heads. 
 
 Want o' wit is waur than want o' gear. 
 Wanton kittens mak douce cats.
 
 94 SCO TTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 Watch harm catch harm. 
 
 We can poind for debt but no for kindness. 
 
 We canna baith sup and blaw. 
 
 We ken your eild by the runkles o' your horn. 
 [Said to old maids that pretend to be young.] 
 
 We may ken your meaning by your mumping. 
 
 We'll meet ere hills meet. 
 
 Weel begun is half done. 
 
 Weel enough is soon enough. 
 
 Wha is ill to his ain is ill to himsel. 
 
 Wha looks to freets, freets will follow. 
 
 Wha never climbs never fa's. 
 
 Whare the deer's slain the bluid will lie. 
 
 Whare there's muckle courtesy there's little kindness. 
 
 What is gotten ower the deil's back is spent below his belly. 
 
 What we love heartily, we love smartly. 
 
 What winna mak a pat may mak a pat lid. 
 
 When a' fruit fa's, welcome haws. 
 
 When ane rises up, anither sits doun : that's the way in this toun. 
 
 When ane winna, twa canna cast out. 
 
 When my head's down my house is theekit. 
 
 [" Spoken by those who are free from debts, concerns, or future projects, 
 as common tradesmen, day labourers, and servants who work their 
 work and get their wages, and commonly are the happiest part of 
 mankind." — Kelly. '\ 
 
 When the barn's fou, you may thrash at the door. 
 
 When the burn does not babble, it's either ower toom or ower 
 
 fa'. 
 
 When the craw flies, her tail follows. 
 
 When the dike's laighest, it's easiest loupit. 
 
 When the heart's past hope, the face is past shame. 
 
 When the horse is at the gallop the bridle's ower late. 
 
 When the tod gets to the wood, he caresna wha keeks at his tail.
 
 TRUISMS. 95 
 
 When the wame's fou, the banes would be at rest. 
 
 When ye're gaun and coming the gate 's no toom. 
 
 White legs would aye be rused. 
 
 White siller's wrought in black pitch. 
 
 Whoredom and grace ne'er dwelt in ae place. 
 
 Wide lugs and a short tongue are best. 
 
 Wise men are caught wi' wiles. 
 
 Wishers and woulders are poor householders. 
 
 Woo sellers ken aye woo buyers. 
 
 Work for naething maks folk dead-swear. 
 
 Work legs and win legs, hain legs and tine legs. 
 
 Wrang has nae warrant. 
 
 Ye're a widdiefou gin hanging time. 
 
 Ye're ane o' the tender Gordons — you downa be hanged for 
 
 gallin' your neck. 
 ["Spoken to those who readily complain of hurts and hardships.'"— 
 Kelly. '\ 
 
 Ye're as sma as the twitter o' a twined rash. 
 
 ["A taunt to a maid that would gladly be esteemed neat and small." — 
 
 Kelly.-] 
 
 Ye're as white as a loan soup. 
 
 \_Loan so74p, milk fresh from the cow. Said to flatterers, who are called 
 ivhite folks r\ 
 
 Ye're black about the mou for want o' kissing. 
 
 Ye're buttoned up the back like Achmahoy's dog. 
 [Said to lean people whose back bones stand out.] 
 
 Ye're like me, and I'm like sma drink. 
 [That is, little worth.] 
 
 Ye're like the smith's dog, ye sleep at the sound o' the hammer, 
 
 and waken at the crunching o' teeth. 
 Ye're mista'en o' the stuff— it's half silk. 
 Ye're ower bird-mou'd (mealy-mouthed). 
 Ye breed o' the chapman — ye're aye to hansel.
 
 SCO TTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 Ye ca hardest at the nail that drives fastest. 
 
 ["Spoken to them whom we have been very ready to serve, when our 
 readiness that \vay encourages them to put the sorer upon us." — 
 
 Kelly.] 
 
 Ye canna sell the cow and sup the milk too. 
 
 Ye canna wash a black man white. 
 
 Ye gie gude counsel, but he's a fool that taks it. 
 
 Ye had aye gude whittle at your belt. 
 [Said to them that have a ready answer.] 
 
 Ye hae a sa' for a' sairs. 
 
 Ye hae come in time for tineing a darg. 
 [For losing a day's work, that is, too late.J 
 
 Ye hae got baith the skaith and the scorn. 
 
 Ye hae missed that, as you did your mither's blessing. 
 
 Ye hae ower foul feet to come sae far ben. 
 
 [" You are too mean to pretend to such a courtship." — Kelly.'] 
 
 Ye hae ower muckle loose leather about your chafts. 
 [You say the thing you should not.] 
 
 Ye hae sitten your time, as mony a gude hen has. 
 
 Ye've been lang on little yird. 
 
 Ye've ta'en 't on you, as the wife did the dancing. 
 
 Ye've worked a yokin and loosed in time. 
 
 Ye live beside ill neighbours. 
 
 [Said to people who praise themselves.] 
 
 Ye may be greedy, but ye're no greening. 
 
 ["An excuse for denying what one asks of us, because the want of it 
 will not make them miscarry." — Kelly.] 
 
 Ye may gape lang ere a bird flee in your mouth. 
 
 Ye may tine the father seeking the son. 
 
 Ye may wash aff dirt but no dun hide. 
 
 Ye needna blame God if the deil ding you ower. 
 
 Ye needna lay thereout for want o' a nest egg. 
 [Spoken to him that has a handsome young wife.] 
 
 Ye strive about uncoft gaits (unbought goats). 
 
 Ye tak niair in your mouth than your cheeks will haud. 
 
 Ye wad gar me trew my head was ccw'd, and I fi; d th: h ir 
 
 on't.
 
 TRUISMS. 97 
 
 Ye was bred about the mill, ye hae mouped a' your manners. 
 
 Ye winna put out the fire wi' tow. 
 
 Ye would be a gude Borrowstoun sow — ye scent weel. 
 
 "Spoken when people pretend to find the smell of something that we 
 would conceal." — Kelly. "^ 
 
 Ye '11 be hanged and I '11 be harried. 
 
 Ye '11 do little for God, if the deil was dead. 
 
 Ye '11 gang a grey gate. 
 
 [You will take a wicked course. 1 
 
 Ye '11 gather nae gowd aff windlestraes. 
 
 Ye '11 get as muckle for ae wish this year, as for twa femyear 
 
 (last year.) 
 
 [That is, nothing.] 
 
 Ye '11 get nae mair o' a cat but the skin. 
 
 Ye '11 get waur bodes ere Beltane. 
 
 [Ye '11 get worse offers before the ist of May.] 
 
 Ye '11 kythe in your ain colours yet. 
 
 Ye '11 ne'er get twa breads aff ae cake. 
 {^Breads, loaves.] 
 
 Ye '11 ne'er rowte in my tether. 
 
 Ye '11 no \q\. it be for want o' craving. 
 
 You shine like a white gird about a shairney cog. 
 
 You shine like the sunny side o' a shairney wecht. 
 
 You '11 aye ken a gude warkman by his chips. 
 
 You '11 get better when you mend. 
 
 Your head canna get up but your stamach follows. 
 
 Yule is young on Yule even, 
 
 And auld in St. Steven. 
 ["Spoken when people are much taken v/ith novelties, and as Soon 
 weary of them.'"— AW/y.]
 
 98 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 A beggar's wallet is a mile to the bottom. 
 [Because it generally holds all that he gets.] 
 
 A bread house never skail'd. 
 
 [A hospitable house was never without a visitor. Kelly's explanation is 
 " Bread is the staff of life, and while people have that they need 
 not give over housekeeping : Spoken when we have bread, and 
 perhaps want something finer."] 
 
 A cumbersome cur in company is hated for his miscarriage. 
 
 A daft nurse maks a wise wean. 
 
 A dapple grey horse will sooner die than tire. 
 
 A day to come seems langer than a year that's gane. 
 
 A dear ship lies lang in the harbour. 
 
 [Applied often to maids that are fastidious.] 
 
 A dog's life — hunger and ease. 
 
 A drink is shorter than a tale. 
 
 A fair fire maks a room flit. 
 
 A fat hen maks a lean cock. 
 
 A fidging mare should be weel girded. 
 
 A fop is the tailor's friend and his ain foe. 
 
 A fou heart never lied. 
 
 A great ruser was ne'er a gude rider. 
 
 A gude fellow is a costly name. 
 
 [" Spoken when people urge us to spend, that we may be reckoned good 
 fellows. ' ' — Kelly. '\ 
 
 A gude fellow 's ne'er tint but an ill ane 's at hand. 
 
 A green turf is a gude gudemither.
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 99 
 
 A green wound is half heal. 
 
 A gude ingle maks a roomy fireside. 
 
 A hairy man 's a geary man, but a hairy wife 's a witch. 
 
 A hantle cry murder ! and are aye upmost. 
 
 A hardy man to draw a sword on a haggis. 
 
 A hearty hand to gie a hungry mealtith. 
 [In ridicule of a niggardly dispenser.] 
 
 A horn spoon hauds nae poison. 
 
 [" They who cannot procure better spoons are not worth poisoning." — 
 Kelly.'] 
 
 A houndless hunter and a gunless gunner aye see routh o' game. 
 
 A kind look turneth awa anger. 
 
 A lang gathered dam soon rins out. 
 
 A lass is a lad's leavings. 
 
 [Said by a girl to those that call her ' lass' and not by her nanne.] 
 
 A laughing faced lad maks a lither servant. 
 [Because he is too full of roguery to be diligent.] 
 
 A man o' mony trades begs his bread on Sunday. 
 
 A man's mind is a mirk mirror. 
 
 A man, like a watch, is valued for his time. 
 
 A midge is as big as a mountain, amaist. 
 
 A mouthfou o' meat may be a townfou o' shame. 
 [If it be stolen.] 
 
 A nag wi' a wame, and a mare wi' nane. 
 
 A pair o' heels is worth twa pair o' hanns. 
 
 A party pot ne'er plays even. 
 
 [" Projects and properties in which many have a share seldom come to 
 a good account." — Kelly. '\ 
 
 A penny mair buys the whistle. 
 
 A rich mouthfou, and heavy groans. 
 
 A safe conscience maks a sound sleep. 
 
 A scar'd head is soon broken. 
 
 ["A thing that was but tender before will easily be put out of order." — 
 Kelly. A questionable reputation is easily lost altogether. 
 
 A shor'd tree stands lang. 
 SjShot'd, threatened.]
 
 SCOTTISH PROVERBS. 
 
 A sight o' you is gude for sair een. 
 
 A spur in the head is worth twa in the heel. 
 
 A sturdy beggar should hae a stout naesayer. 
 
 A taking hand never wants. 
 
 A tarrowing bairn was never fat. 
 [Tarrotving, complaining of his food.] 
 
 A thief is a hard master. 
 
 A thrawn question should hae a thrawn answer. 
 
 A wall between baith best preserves friendship. 
 
 A whang aff a new cut kebbuck is ne'er missed. 
 
 A working mither maks a daw dochter. 
 
 [Another rendering of ' An olite mither maks a sweir dochter 'and ' A 
 light-heeled mither maks a heavy.heeled dochter.'] 
 
 Ae hand winna wash the ither for naething. 
 
 Ae ill word meets anither, if it were at the brig o' Lunnun 
 
 (London). 
 
 Ae scone o' a baking's enough. 
 
 [Same as ' Ae sheaf o' a stook's enough.'] 
 
 Ae thing is said, and anither thing seen. 
 
 Aft counting keeps friends lang thegither. 
 
 After meat, mustard. 
 
 [Said when a thing is brought in after the proper time.] 
 
 After words come weird : fair fa' them that ca' me " Madam." 
 [All in good time. A reply to those who address you by a title higher 
 than your station.] 
 
 A' cats are grey i' the dark. 
 
 A' gowd or a' dirt. 
 
 [Either all affection, or all aversion.] 
 
 A' his buz shakes nae corn. 
 
 A' is but lip-wit that wants experience. 
 
 A' is fair at the ba'. 
 
 A' the speed is in the spurs. 
 
 A' the winning is in the first buying. 
 
 A' thing wytes that nae weel fares. 
 
 [He who fails blames anything rather t;han himself.]
 
 MISCELLAXEOUS. lOl 
 
 " Amaist," and "Very near" hae aye been great liars. 
 
 Amang you be 't, priests' bairns ; I am but a priest's oye. 
 
 [" Spoken when we see people contending, in whose contests we have 
 little concern." — Kelly. '\ 
 
 An auld goat is no the mair reverend for his beard. 
 
 An auld tout on a new horn. 
 [Something heard before.] 
 
 An egg's a mouthfou o' meat, and a tov/nfou o' shame. 
 [The latter when it is stolen.] 
 
 An ill cook should hae a gude cleaver. 
 
 An ill penny will cast down a pound. 
 
 An ill shearer never got a gude heuk. 
 
 An inch o' a miss is as gude as a span. 
 
 An inch o' a nag is worth a span o' an aiver. 
 
 ["A little man, if smart and stout, is much preferable to an unwieldy 
 lubber, though much bigger." — Kelly ^ 
 
 An olite mither maks a sweir dochter. 
 
 Ance awa, aye awa. 
 
 Ance paid, never craved. 
 
 Ance provost, aye My Lord. 
 
 Ane beats the bush, and anither grips the bird. 
 
 Ane does the skaith, and anither gets the scorn. 
 
 Ane gets sma thanks for tineing his ain. 
 
 Ane may bind a sack before its fou. 
 
 Ane o' the court, but nane o' the council. 
 
 Anything for a quiet life. 
 
 As day brake, butter brake. 
 
 [" Spoken when a person or thing that was wanting comes opportunely. " 
 —Kelly. -] 
 
 As broken a ship has come to land. 
 [As unlikely a thing has happened.] 
 
 As fause as Waghorn, and he was nineteen times fauser than 
 
 the deil. 
 
 \Waghorn, a fabulous personage, who was crowned King of Liars.] 
 
 As gude a fellow as ever toomed a bicker. 
 As gude ne'er a bit as ne'er the better.
 
 SCO TTJSH PR VERBS. 
 
 As lang as a dog would be bound wi' a bluid puddin. 
 
 As lang runs the fox as he has feet. 
 
 As plain as the nose on your face. 
 
 As sair fights the wren as the crane. 
 
 As soon comes the lamb's skin to the market as the auld sheep's. 
 
 As tired as a tyke is o' langkail. 
 
 As wanton as a wet hen. 
 
 As weel be hanged for a wether as a lamb. 
 
 As wight as a wabster's doublet, that ilka night taks a thief by 
 
 the neck. 
 [The Scots seem to have had but a low opinion of the honesty of weavers.] 
 
 As ye are strong, be merciful. 
 
 As ye loe me look in my dish. 
 
 [Shew your kindness by your deeds.] 
 
 As ye mak your bed, sae ye maun lie down. 
 
 As ye use your parents sae will your children use you. 
 
 At open doors dogs gae ben. 
 
 * Auld friends are sweir to part,' quo' the auld mare to the 
 
 broken cart.. 
 
 Auld sins breed new sairs. 
 
 Auld springs gie nae price. 
 
 {Springs y tunes. Said when old persons or things are despised.] 
 
 Auld stots hae stiff horns. 
 
 Ax my fellow if I 'm a thief. 
 
 Ax the tapster if his ale be good. 
 
 Bachelors' wives and maidens' bairns are aye weel bred. 
 
 Be either a man or a mouse. 
 
 Be gaun, the gate's before you. 
 [A cool farewell.] 
 
 ' Be it sae' is nae banning. 
 
 Be not a baker if your head be o' butter. 
 
 Be still taking and farrowing.
 
 MISCELLAA'E US. 1 03 
 
 * Beds are best', quo' the man to his guest. 
 [A hint to go to bed.l 
 
 Before an ill wife be gude, even if she was a' turned to the tongue. 
 
 Before the cat lick her lug. 
 
 Before the deil gaes blind, and he's no blear ee'd yet. 
 [Both said when we promise to do a thing soon.] 
 
 Beggars' brood are aye proud. 
 
 Belyve is twa hours and a half. 
 \_Belyve, by and by.] 
 
 Better a louse in the pat as nae kitchen. 
 
 Better a mouse in the pat as nae flesh. 
 
 Better a spare at the braid than the bottom. 
 [Better Uve sparingly than spend lavishly.] 
 
 Better a thigging mither than a riding father. 
 
 Better be sonsy than soon up. 
 
 [Better good fortune than great industry.] 
 
 Better belly burst than gude meat spill. 
 [Said in pressing to eat.] 
 
 Better haud by a hair than draw by a tether. 
 [It"s best to have a thing in possession.] 
 
 Better laugh at your ain pint than greet and gather gear. 
 [Better be merry in spending than sorrowful in making money.] 
 
 Better out o' the warld than out o' the fashion. 
 
 Better short and sweet than lang and lax. 
 
 Better to die begging than wi' a beggar. 
 
 Better to live in hope than die in despair. 
 
 Between the deil and the deep sea. 
 [Between two difficulties equally great.] 
 
 Between you and the lang day be 't. 
 [An appeal to the Day of Judgment,] 
 
 Bid a man to a roast and stick him wi' the spit. 
 [" Spoken when we are invited to our cost." — Ktlly,'\ 
 
 Bide weel, betide weel. 
 
 Birds o' a feather aye flock thegither. 
 
 Biting and scarting is Scotch folks' wooing. 
 
 Black's my apron, and I 'm aye washing 't. 
 [A bad reputation is difficult to outlive.]
 
 1 04 SCO TTISII PR VERBS. 
 
 Bode a robe and wear it, bode a pock and bear it. 
 
 ["Speak heartily, and expect good, and it will fall out accordindv." — 
 Kelly.-\ 
 
 Bode a silk gown and ye'll get a sleeve o't. 
 
 Boden gear stinks. 
 
 \_Boden, forced upon one."] 
 
 Bonnet aside, how sell you your maut ? 
 
 [Calling attention to a bonnet or other article of dress that sits awry.] 
 
 Boot wha has better. 
 
 [Let him that has the better bargain give the boot.] 
 
 Borrow, as I did. 
 
 Bourdna wi' bawty, lest he bite you. 
 
 \_Bawty, the name of a dog. Jest not too familiarly with those above you, 
 lest you suffer.] 
 
 Brag o' a fair day when night is come. 
 
 Bread and cheese is gude to eat, 
 
 When folk can get nae ither meat. 
 Break my head and then draw on my how. 
 Bridal feasts are soon forgotten. 
 Bridal feuds are soon forgotten. 
 By chance a cripple may catch a hare. 
 
 Ca' again, you're no a ghaist. 
 [Your visits are welcome.] 
 
 Ca' canny and flee laigh. 
 
 Ca' canny, and ye'll break nae graith. 
 
 Ca' me and I'll ca' thee. 
 
 [Speak well of me, and I'll speak well of j'ou.] 
 
 Ca' me cousin, but cozen me not. 
 
 Cadgers are aye cracking o' creels. 
 
 Cadgers are aye cracking o' lade-saddles. 
 
 Caff and draff is gude aneugh for aivers. 
 
 Carena would hae mair. 
 
 Carry my lady to Rome, and gie her a hitch, and a' is done, 
 
 [" A reflection upon the humours of great persons, whom if you oblige 
 in a hundred things, and disoblige in one, all the fat is in the fire." 
 Keliy.']
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 105 
 
 Cast a bane in the deil's teeth. 
 
 Cast a cat ower tjie house and she'll fa' on her feet. 
 
 Cast nae snawba's \vi' him. 
 [Do not trust him.] 
 
 Cast the cat ower him. 
 
 [" It is believed that when a man is raving in a fever, the cat cast over him 
 will cure him; applied to them whom we hear telling extravagant 
 things as they were raving." — Kelly.'] 
 
 Cat after kind. 
 
 Cats and carlins sit in the sun. 
 
 [To this is generally added, " but fair maidens sit within,"] 
 
 Cauld kail het again is aye pat tasted. 
 
 Cauld water scalds daws. 
 
 Changes are lightsome. 
 
 Changing o' words is a lightening o' hearts. 
 
 Clatter a cat to death. 
 
 Claw me and I'll claw thee. 
 
 [Promote my interests, and I'll promote yours.] 
 
 Clawing and eating needs but a beginning. 
 
 Clean pith and fair play. 
 
 Cocks are aye gude will'd o' horses' corn. 
 
 Come a' to Jock Fool's house, and ye'll get bread and cheese. 
 
 Come back the morn and ye'll get pies for naething. 
 
 Come day, go day, God send Sunday. 
 
 [" Spoken to lazy unconscionable servants, who only mind to serve out 
 their time, and get tlieir wages." — Kelly.'] 
 
 Come not to the council unbidden. 
 
 Come unca'd sits unsair'd. 
 
 Confess and be hanged. 
 
 Corbies and clergy are kittle shot. 
 
 Corbies dinna pick out corbies' een. 
 [Rogues do not harm each other.] 
 
 Corduroy maks a poor turn. 
 Corn's no gude for staigs. 
 Count again is no forbidden.
 
 io6 SCO TTISII PR VERBS. 
 
 Courtesy is cumbersome to him that kens it not. 
 
 Crabs breed crabs wi' the help o' gude lads. 
 
 Cripples are aye better schemers than walkers. 
 
 ' Crooket carlin,' quo' the cripple to his wife. 
 
 Curses mak the tod fat. 
 
 [He is cursed when he takes the poultry.] 
 
 DafFm and want o' wit, maks auld wives donnart 
 
 Dame, deem warily, ye watna wha wytes yoursel. 
 iDeem, judge.] 
 
 Dawted dochters mak dawly wives. 
 
 Death at the ae door, and herschip at the tither. 
 
 Dear bought and far sought, is meat for ladies. 
 
 Deil be in the house that ye're beguiled in. 
 [It would take the deil to cheat you.] 
 
 Deil be in the pock that ye cam in. 
 
 Deil mene ye if your leg were broken, 
 \_3feHe, bemean.] 
 
 Deil speed them that speir, and ken sae week 
 
 ["A spiteful return to those who ask an ensnaring question which we 
 suspect they can answer themselves." — Kelly.'] 
 
 Dicht your sair een wi' your elbow. 
 
 Did you ere square acounts wi' him ? 
 
 Ding down the nests, and the craws will flee awa. 
 
 [This proverb, says Kelly, was unhappily applied at the Reformation to 
 the destroying of many stately cathedrals and collegiate churches.] 
 
 Dinna lift me before I fa'. 
 
 Dit your mouth wi' your meat. 
 [Give over talking.] 
 
 Do as the lasses do — say No, but tak it. 
 
 Do what ye ought, and come what can : 
 
 Think o' ease, but work on. 
 Dochters and dead fish are ill keeping wares. 
 Doctors pay nae debts. 
 Dogs that bark at a distance ne'er bite at hand.
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. io7 
 
 Double charges rive cannons. 
 
 [Said when more is pressed upon one than he can bear.] 
 
 * Down wi' the lid,' quo' Willie Reid. 
 
 Dows and dominies aye leave a foul house. 
 
 \_Do'ws, pigeons, which dirty everything where they are.] 
 
 Draff is gude aneugh for swine. 
 
 Dummie winna lie. 
 
 Eagles catch nae flies. 
 
 Early pricks will be thorns. • 
 
 Ease and honour are seldom bedfellows. 
 
 Eith keeping the castle that's no besieged. 
 
 Either live or die wi' honour. 
 
 Either the tod or a fern bush. 
 
 [" Spoken to silly people when they speak with uncertainty." — Kelly.'} 
 
 Enough is as gude as a feast. 
 
 Even as you win 't, sae may you wear 't. 
 
 Ever spare, ever bare. 
 
 Every ane bows to the bush that beilds him. 
 
 [Every man pays court to him who gives him protection.] 
 
 Every ane for himsel, and God for us a'. 
 
 Every ane has his ain draff pock, though some hang sider than 
 
 ithers. 
 
 [Every man has his faults, though some have more than others.] 
 
 Every ane loups the dike at the laighest. 
 
 ' Every ane to his ain trade,' quo' the brewster to the bishop. 
 
 Every day is no Yule day : cast the cat a castock. 
 
 [Every day is not Christmas day, therefore be more liberal than usual.] 
 
 Every dream o' delight has a pound o' spite. 
 
 Every dud bids anither gude day. 
 [Said of people in rags and tatters.] 
 
 Every inch o' joy has an ell o' annoy added to it. 
 
 Every man for his ain hand, as Harry Wynd, the smith, said. 
 
 Every man's blind in his ain cause.
 
 io8 SCO TTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 Every man wears his belt his ain gate. 
 
 Every man's tale is gude till anither 's t^uld. 
 
 Every play maun be played, and some maun play it. 
 
 Every season has its reason. 
 
 Every sow to her ain trough. 
 
 [Let every one keep his own place and look after himself.] 
 
 Everything would fain live. 
 
 Fa' on the fayest, the beetle amang the bairns. 
 
 [" Spoken when we do a thing at a venture, that may be good for some 
 and bad for another ; and let the event fall upon the most unfortu. 
 nate." — Kelly.'] 
 
 Fair exchange is nae robbery. 
 
 Fair fa' the wife, and weel may she spin, 
 
 That counts ave the lawin wi' a pint to come in. 
 [" A rh^Tne among drunken companions, who would have the landlady 
 put into her bill a bottle not yet called for." — Kelly ^^ 
 
 Fair fa' you, and that 's nae fleeching. 
 
 Fair folk are aj^e fusionless. 
 
 Fair folk are aye whitely (delicate). 
 
 Fair gae they, fair come they, and aye their heels hindmost. 
 
 [Kelly says that this was originally said of the fairies, but latterly of bad 
 people with whom we desire to have no concern or business.] 
 
 Fair offers are nae cause o' feud. 
 
 Fair words butter nae parsnips. 
 
 Fair words winna mak the pat boil. 
 
 Fairest flowers soonest fade. 
 
 Fancy flies before the wind. 
 
 Fancy kills, and fancy cures. 
 
 Far awa fowls hae aye fair feathers. 
 
 Far behind maun follow the faster. 
 
 Far frae court, far frae care. 
 
 Farest frae the kirk, aye soonest at it. 
 
 Fast bind, fast find. 
 
 Fat hens are aye ill layers.
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 109 
 
 Fat paunches hae aye lean pows. 
 
 Feather by feather the goose is plucked. 
 
 Feckless folk are fond o' ane anither. 
 
 Feckless fools should keep canny tongues. 
 
 Feed a cauld and hunger a colic. 
 
 Feeding out o' course, maks mettle out o' kind. 
 
 Feeling has nae fellow. 
 
 Fell a dog wi' a bane and he '11 no youl. 
 
 Fiddlers' dogs and flesh-flies come to feasts unca'd. 
 
 Fiddlers' wives and gamester's drink are free to ilka body. 
 
 Fight dog, fight bear ; wha wins, deil care. 
 
 Fill fou and haud fou, maks the stark man. 
 
 Fine to fine maks a bad line. 
 
 [" Butter to butter's nae kitchen".] 
 
 Fire and water are gude servants but ill masters. 
 
 Fire maks an auld wife nimble. 
 
 First come, first sair'd. 
 
 Fish maun soom thrice. 
 
 [Once in water, once in sauce, and once in drink.] 
 
 Fleying a bird is no the way to catch 't. 
 
 Fling at the brod was ne'er a gude ox. 
 
 \J3r0d, the goad. Applied to those who spurn reproof.] 
 
 Flitting o' farms maks mailings dear. 
 
 Folk canna help a' their kin. 
 
 Folk watna whiles whither they run fast or gang at leisure. 
 
 Folks' dogs bark waur than themselves. 
 
 Fools aye see ither folks' faults, and forget their ain. 
 
 For a tint thing, carena. 
 
 For as gude again, like Sunday milk. 
 
 ["A precise woman in our country would not sell her milk on Sunday, 
 but would give it for as good a^aiu. Spoken when we suspect 
 people's kindness to be mercenary ; or when \vq promise to make 
 either their kindness or mischief a suitable return."— AW/y.]
 
 SCO 7 TlSir PRO VERBS. 
 
 For better acquaintance, as Sir John Ramsay drank to his 
 
 father. 
 L" Sir John Ramsay had been long abroad, and coming home he 
 accidentally met with his father, who did not know him : He invites 
 his father to a glass of wine, and drinks to him for more acquaint- 
 ance." — Kelly.'} 
 
 For fashion's sake, as the dogs gang to the market. 
 
 For gude cheese and gude cheer mony haunt the house. 
 
 Force without foresight is little worth. 
 
 Forced prayers are no gude for the soul. 
 
 Forewarned, half armed. 
 
 Fou o' courtesy, fou o' craft. 
 
 Foul fa' nought, and then he'll get naething. 
 
 [Said contemptuously of those who are presumptuous In their expecta- 
 tions.] 
 
 Foul water will slocken fire. 
 
 Frae the teeth forward. 
 [Not from the heart.] 
 
 Friday flit, short time sit. 
 
 [The day being considered unlucky.] 
 
 Gane is the goose that laid the muckle egg. 
 
 Gaunting bodes wanting ane o' things three — sleep, meat, or 
 
 gude companie. 
 Gaunting bodes wanting ane o' things three — sleep, meat, or 
 
 making o'. 
 Gaunting gaes frae man to man. 
 
 Gar wood is ill to grow, chuckie stanes are ill to chow. 
 Gaylie would be better. 
 Gentle servants are poor men's hardships. 
 Gentle servants are rich men's tinsel. 
 Gentlemen are unco scant, when a wabster gets a lady. 
 Gibbie's grace — deil claw the clungest. 
 Gie a carl your finger and he'll tak your hail hand, 
 Gie a dog an ill name and he'll soon be hanged.
 
 MISCELLANE US. 
 
 Gie a gaun man a drink and a rising man a knock. 
 
 Gie a greedy dog a muckle bane. 
 
 Gie a strong thief a stark name. 
 
 Gie a thing, tak a thing, and that's the ill man's ring. 
 \_Ill viati, the devil.] 
 
 ' Gie her her will or she'll burst,' quo' the man, when his wife 
 
 kamed his head wi' the three-footed stool. 
 
 Gie him a hole and he'll find a pin. 
 
 Gie him an inch and he'll tak an ell. 
 
 Gie him tow enough and he'll hang himsel. 
 
 Gie is a gude fellow, but he soon wearies. 
 
 Gie it about, it will come to my father at last. 
 
 ["A young fellow was sitting in company with his father who, upon some 
 provocation, gave him a blow ; who immediately gave his left hand 
 man as much, and bade him give it about. Spoken when we 
 would have some ill turn done to somebody, but not immediately 
 by our self." — Kelly. 'I 
 
 Gie losing gamesters leave to talk. 
 
 Gie my cousin kail enow, and see my cousin's dish be fou. 
 
 [" A senseless ridicule of servants to a poor relation when he comes to 
 his rich friend's house.'' — Kelly.'] 
 
 Gie ewer while the play is gude. 
 
 Gie you meat, drink, and claes, and ye'll beg amang your 
 
 friends. 
 
 Gie you the deil in a pock and he'll no bite you. 
 
 Gifif gaff maks gude friends. 
 
 [Mutual obligations cement friendship.] 
 
 Girn when you tie, and laugh when you loose. 
 
 God help you to a hutch, for ye'll ne'er get a mailing. 
 
 God keep the cat out o' your gate, for the hens can flie. 
 
 [" Spoken with disdain to them that threaten what they will do when 
 we know they dare do nothing." — Kelly.'] 
 
 God sain (bless) your ee, man. 
 
 Graceless meat grows week 
 
 Graceless meat maks folk fat. 
 
 Great barkers are nae biters.
 
 1 1 2 SCO TTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 Great winning maks wark easy. 
 
 Gree like tykes and swine. 
 
 Grey ee'd greedy ; brown e'ed needy ; black ee'd never blin', 
 
 till he shame a' his kin. 
 
 Grudge not anither what you canna get yoursel. 
 
 Gude ale needs nae wisp. 
 
 \}Visp, the wisp of straw on the top of a house used as a sign. Good wine 
 needs no bush.] 
 
 Gude ale warms the heart o' man, but whiskey maks them 
 
 quarrel. 
 Gude-aneugh has got a wife, and Far-better wants. 
 Gude bairns are eith to lear. 
 Gude be wi' auld lang syne, when our gutchers eat their 
 
 trenchers. 
 
 Gude cheer and cheap gars mony haunt the house. 
 
 Gude folk are scarce, tak care o' ane. 
 
 Gude kail is half meat. 
 
 Gude reason and part cause. 
 
 Gude to fetch sorrow to a sick wife. 
 
 [" Said to them that staj' long when sent on an errand." — Kelly.'} 
 
 Gude to thee, gude to m.e. 
 
 Gude wit jumps. 
 
 Gude ! you're common to kiss you're kimmer. 
 
 [" Spoken to them whom we see do service or shew kindness to them to 
 whom thej' have great obHgations." — Kelly.'] 
 
 Guess'd wark is best, if right done. 
 
 ' Gulp !' quo' the wife, when she swallowed her tongue. 
 
 Gunpowder is hasty eldin. 
 
 ' Had I wist', quo' the fool, or beware of ' Had I wist'. 
 
 [Said to people who say, ' Had I known what would have been the 
 consequence of such an action, I would not have done it.'] 
 
 Had you sic a shoe on ilka foot, it would gar you schachel. 
 
 Hae a place for ilka thing, and ilka thing in its place.
 
 MISCE L LANE US. 1 1 3 
 
 Hair and hair male's the carl's head bare. 
 [An estate may be ruined by small diminutions.] 
 
 Ha' binks are sliddrey. 
 
 [The favour of the great is uncertain.] 
 
 Half acres bear aye gude corn, 
 [Little is made the most of.] 
 
 Hand in use, is father o' lear. 
 [Practice makes perfect.] 
 
 Handle your tools without mittens. 
 
 Hang a thief when he's young, and he'll no steal when he's auld. 
 
 Hang him that has nae shift, and hang him that has ower mony. 
 [The former is not worth hanging, the latter cannot be hanged too soon.] 
 
 Hang hunger, and drown drouth. 
 
 Hanging is nae better than it's ca'd. 
 
 Happy go lucky. 
 [At all hazards.] 
 
 Happy is the bride that the sun shines on ; 
 
 Happy is the corpse that the rain rains on. 
 
 Happy man be his dool. 
 
 Happy man, happy kavel. 
 
 Hardships seldom come single. ' 
 
 Haud your hand, your father slew a whaup. 
 
 [In ridicule of those that threaten yet dare not execute,] 
 
 He begs frae them that borrowed frae him. 
 
 He blaws in her lug fu' brawly. 
 
 \_Blaw in one's lug, to flatter one extravagantly.] 
 
 He brings a staff to break his ain head. 
 He can do ill, and he may do gude. 
 He caresna whase bairns greet, if his laugh. 
 He comes o' gude, he canna be ill. 
 He comes to gude by misguiding. 
 He could eat me but (without) salt. 
 He daurna say ' Bo' to your blanket. 
 He doesna like his wark that says ' Now' when it's done. 
 He fells twa dogs wi' ae stane (or bane). 
 I
 
 114 SCOT JISH PR VERBS. 
 
 He gangs awa in an ill time that ne'er comes back again. 
 
 He gangs far about seeking the nearest. 
 
 He gets his kail in a riven dish. 
 
 ['• Spoken of them who are not much regarded. For if his broth be put 
 in a split dish he will get little good of them."— A'(?//j'.] 
 
 He gies me whitings without banes. 
 [That is, fair words.] 
 
 He gies nae ither milk. 
 
 He girns like a sheep's head in a pair o' tangs. 
 
 He got his mither's malison the day he was married. 
 [He has got a bad wife.] 
 
 He had a finger in the pie. 
 
 He had gude skill o' horse flesh wha bought a goose to ride on. 
 
 He has a bee in his bonnet. 
 [He is hare-brained,] 
 
 He has a sliddrey grip that has an eel by the tail. 
 
 [" Spoken to them who have to do with cunning fellows, whom you can 
 hardly bind sure enough." — Kelly ^ 
 
 He has an ill look amang lambs. 
 
 He has an ee in his neck. 
 
 [Said of wary cautious people.] 
 
 He has mair floor than he has flail for. 
 
 He has got a bite o' his ain bridle. 
 
 He has broken his face on the ambry. 
 
 [Said of fat-cheeked boys.] 
 
 He has coosten his cloak on his tither shouther. 
 [He has changed sides.] 
 
 He has coupet the muckle pot into the little ane. 
 [He has done something wonderful.] 
 
 He has feathered his nest, he may flee when he likes. 
 
 He has drowned the miller. 
 
 [He has put too much water with the spirits.] 
 
 He has gane without taking his leave. 
 [He has run away from his creditors.] 
 
 He has got out o' the cheswell he was made in. 
 
 He has helped me out o' a dead lift. 
 
 [He has given me good help at the proper time.]
 
 MISCELLANE US. 
 
 He has hit the nail on the head. 
 
 He has left the key beneath the door. 
 
 He has left the key in the cat-hole. 
 
 He has made a moonlight flittin. 
 
 \_A ■moonlight Jlittin, the carrying off one's goods or furniture by night 
 in order to escape from one's creditors or from arrestment. The two 
 preceding also imply that a man has run away from his creditors.] 
 
 He has muckle prayer but little devotion. 
 
 He hasna a bauchel to swear by. 
 
 He has naething to crave at my hand. 
 
 He has skill o' roasted woo, when it stinks it's ready. 
 
 He has the best end o' the string. 
 
 He has swallowed a flee. 
 
 [" Spoken of sots who are always drunk, as if there was a fly in their 
 throat, which they endeavour to w-ash down." — Kelly."] 
 
 He has the impudence o' a miller's horse. 
 
 He hears wi' his heels, as the geese do in hairst. 
 
 He is a causey saint and a house deil. 
 
 He's an Aberdeen man, he'll tak his word again. 
 
 He is an auld horse that will neither neicher nor wag his 
 
 tail. 
 
 He's a poor beggar that canna gang by ae door. 
 
 He's a sary cook that canna lick his ain fingers. 
 
 He's a silly man that can neither do gude nor ill. 
 
 He's as hard wi' me as I had been the wild Scot o' Galloway. 
 [He deals with me rigorously and severelj'.] 
 
 He's as stiff as he had swallowed the poker. 
 
 He's awin me a day's shearing, the langest o' hairst. 
 [Said of one to whom I have done a good turn.] 
 
 He's but Jock, the laird's brither. 
 
 [A younger son, whose provision is very small.] 
 
 He's cooling and supping. 
 
 ["He has nothing but from hand to mouth."— AW/y.] 
 
 He's gane aff at the nail. 
 
 \_A^at the nail, having no regard to propriety of conduct, wrong- 
 headed, tipsy. Taken from scissors when the two blades go asunder.]
 
 1 16 SCOTTISH PROVERBS 
 
 He's gane to seek his father's sword. 
 [Said of idle vagrants. ] 
 
 He is John Thamson's man, laugh carl. 
 
 ["Complaisant to his wife's humours." — Kelly. John should pro- 
 perly be yoa7i.'\ 
 
 He's like a cow in an unco loan. 
 [In a strange lane.] 
 
 He's like a singet cat — better than he"s bonny. 
 
 He's like the Kilkenny cat — he has left naething behind him but 
 
 his tail. 
 
 He's like the wife's bawty — kens naething o' the matter. 
 
 He's no aye the best wright that hews the maist spales. 
 
 ["A return of a man that wants children to him that upbraids him with 
 xV— Kelly. '\ 
 
 He's no steel in the back sprent. 
 
 He's no steel to the bane. 
 
 He's no the clean potatoe. 
 
 [He is not thoroughly honest. This applies to the three above.] 
 
 He's ower-shot wi' his ain bow. 
 [He's beaten at his own weapon.] 
 
 He's poor that canna promise. 
 
 He's soon done that ne'er dought. 
 
 He's the bee that maks the honey. 
 
 He's the best player that wins. 
 
 He's the best spoke o' your wheel. 
 
 He's the gear that winna traik. 
 \^rraik, get wearied or fatigued.] 
 
 He hens his ain groats amang ither folk's kail. 
 
 He kensna a B frae a bull's foot. 
 
 He lay in his scabbard as mony gude sword's done. 
 [He lay with his clothes on.] 
 
 He left his siller in his ither breeks. 
 [He avoided payment.] 
 
 He likes nae beef that grows on my banes. 
 
 He lo'ed mutton weel that licket whare the ewe lay. 
 
 [" Spoken to them who will sip the bottom of a glass where good liquor 
 was or scrape a plate after good meat." — Kelly.'}
 
 MISCELLAXE US. 1 1 7 
 
 He lo'es me for little that hates me for nought. 
 
 He maun be a gude friend when you dinna ken his value. 
 
 He may find a fault that canna mend it. 
 
 He may weel swim wha has his head haden up. 
 
 He needs maun rin wha the deil drives. 
 
 He ne'er said an ill word, nor did a gude thing. 
 
 He ne'er tint a cow that grat for a needle. 
 
 He niffers for the better. 
 
 He only is bright who shines by himsel. 
 
 He owes a pudding to the gled. 
 
 [Said of an animal supposed to be dying.] 
 
 He plaints early wha plaints o' his meat. 
 
 He puts his meat in an ill skin. 
 
 [His food does not seem to do him much good.] 
 
 He sees an inch before his nose. 
 
 He shall either grin or man fin'. 
 
 [He shall either find the author of the slander or be punished.] 
 
 He should hae a hale pow, that ca's his neighbour Nitynow (a 
 
 little hill full of nits). 
 
 He sits wi' little ease, wha sits on his neighbour's coat tail. 
 
 He speaks like a prent beuk. 
 
 He spoke to me as every word would a lift a dish. 
 [" That is, with great storm and sturdiness." — Kelly r^ 
 
 He streaks ream in my teeth. 
 [He only flatters me.] 
 
 He stumbles at a strae and loups ower a wonlyne. 
 
 He stumbles at a strae, and loups ower a brae. 
 
 [The two preceding mean he pays attention to trifles, and neglects things 
 of far greater importance.] 
 
 He that ance gets his fingers i' the dirt can hardly get them out 
 
 again. 
 
 He that aught the mare aught the bear. 
 
 [" Spoken when a man's own people or cattle do him harm."— AV//^-.] 
 He that bids me to meat wishes me to live.
 
 Ii8 SCOTTISH PROVERBS. 
 
 He that blaws best bears awa the horn. 
 [Gets the reward.] 
 
 He that comes first to the ha' may sit whare he will. 
 
 He that counts a' cost will never put a plough in the yird. 
 
 He that counts a' the price o' his plough \vill never yoke her. 
 
 He that cracks without sense should mean without mind. 
 
 He that eats a boll o' meal in bannocks eats a peck o' ashes- 
 
 He that fishes before the net, lang ere he fish get. 
 
 He that gaes saftly gaes safely. 
 
 He that gets forgets ; he that wants thinks on. 
 
 He that gies a wad gies naething. 
 
 He that has a dog o' his ain may gang to the kirk wi' a clean 
 
 breast. 
 
 He that has a muckle nose thinks ilka ane looks at it. 
 
 He that has a wide theim (guts) ne'er had a lang arm. 
 [Gluttonous people are not likely to be liberal.] 
 
 He that has his hand in the lion's mouth maun tak it out the 
 
 best way he can. 
 
 He that has horns in his bosom need not put them on his head. 
 
 He that has little is the less dirty. 
 
 He that has muckle aye gets mair. 
 
 He that ill bodes ill betides. 
 
 He that invented the maiden first hansel'd her. 
 
 [It is said that the Regent Morton, who was beheaded by the " maiden " 
 (a kind of guillotine), was the inventor of it.] 
 
 He that 's ill o' his harboury is gude at the way-kenning. 
 
 [" Spoken when I ask my neighbour a loan and he tells me that he 
 cannot but such an one can." — Kelly.'\ 
 
 He that 's ill to himsel will be gude to naebody. 
 
 He that isna handsome at twenty, strong at thirty, wise at forty, 
 
 rich at fifty, will never be handsome, strong, wise, nor rich. 
 He that 's manned wi' boys, and horsed wi' colts, will hae his 
 
 meat eaten and his wark undone.
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. Ii9 
 
 He that lacks my mare may buy my mare. 
 
 [Buyers generally depreciate what they wish to purchase.] 
 
 He that laughs alane will male sport in company. 
 
 He that laughs at his ain jokes spoils the sport o' them. 
 
 He that lends his pat may seethe his kail in his loof. 
 
 He that marries a beggar gets a louse for his tocher. 
 
 He that marries a widow and twa dochters has three back doors 
 
 to his house. 
 He that plants trees lo'es ithers beside himsel. 
 He that pleads his ain cause has a fool for his client. 
 He that puts on the public gown maun put aff the private 
 
 person. 
 
 He that puts the cat in the pock kens best how to tak her out. 
 
 He that repents a gude act turns gude into ill. 
 
 He that seeks trouble seldom misses it. 
 
 He that shames, let him be shent. 
 
 [A wish that he who exposes his neighbour may come to shame him.self.] 
 
 He that sits upon a stane is twice fain. 
 
 [Glad to sit down because he is tired, and glad to get up because the 
 stone is hard.] 
 
 He that speirs a' opinions comes ill speed. 
 
 He that speirs aye gets a part. 
 
 He that stumbles twice at ae stane 
 
 Deserves to break his shin-bane. 
 He that teaches himsel has a fool for his master. 
 He that thinks in his bed has a day without a night. 
 He that wants to strike a dog ne'er wants a stick. 
 He that winna when he may, shanna when he would. 
 He that would climb the ladder maun begin at the first step. 
 He that would climb the tree maun take care o' his grip. 
 He that would eat the kernel maun crack the nut. 
 Het kail cauld, nine nights auld, warmed in a pan, — spell me 
 
 that in four letters if you can.
 
 SCO TTJSII PK VERBS. 
 
 He wasna the inventor o' gunpowder. 
 [He is timid.] 
 
 He watsna whilk end o' him is upmost. 
 
 He'll get the poor man's answer — a denial. 
 
 He'll mend when he grows better, like the sour ale in summer. 
 
 He'll ne'er send j'ou awa wi' a sair heart. 
 
 He'll shoot higher that shoots at the moon than he that shoots 
 
 at the midden, although he miss his mark. 
 
 He would fain be forward, if he wist how. 
 
 He would gar you trew the moon was made o' green cheese. 
 
 He would tine his lug, if it werena tackit till him. 
 
 Heard ye the crack that that ga'e ? 
 
 [Said on hearing an empty boast or a notorious lie.] 
 
 Hearken to the hinderend, after comes not yet. 
 
 ' Hech !' quo' Howie, when he swallowed the wife's clue. 
 
 Help you to a hotch, for ye'll ne'ei get a coach : ne'er was ye 
 
 born to get a sound ride. 
 
 Here's the gear, but whare's the siller 
 
 His bark is waur than his bite. 
 
 His eggs hae a' twa yolks. 
 
 His horn's deaf on that side. 
 
 [So given by Henderson ; but a more probable rendering is ' He's horn 
 deaf on that side, that is completely or wilfully deaf.] 
 
 His meal is a' daigh. 
 
 [His pains have been ill bestowed. His expectation is disappointed.] 
 
 His purse and his palate are ill met. 
 
 Horns and grey hair dinna aye come o' years. 
 
 Hout your dogs, and bark yoursel. 
 
 [Hout ! a word used to make dogs give over barking. "A sharp return 
 to those that say 'Hout' to us, which is a word of contempt."— AW/y.] 
 
 How by yoursel, burnt be the mark. 
 
 ["Spoken when other peop'e throw up to us what we think agrees 
 better to themselves." — Kelly.'} 
 
 How come you and me to be so great. 
 
 [" Spoken when our inferiors are too familiar with us." — KellyJ\
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. I2I 
 
 I'm flyting free \vi' you. 
 
 \_Fly ting free, so familiar as to scold ; or, blameless, and therefore free 
 to scold the guilty. Kelly's explanation is, " I am so far out of the 
 reach (<f your tongue that though we should scold you have nothing 
 to say to me.''] 
 
 I'm gaun the errand ye canna gang for me. 
 
 I carena whether the tod worry the goose or the goose worry the 
 
 tod. 
 ["Spoken when two people are contending whom we equally under- 
 value . "—Kelly. ] 
 
 I deny that wi' baith my hands and a' my teeth. 
 
 I had but little butter, and I cast it on the coals. 
 [The little I had I mismanaged.] 
 
 I hae a gude sword, but it's in the castle. 
 
 I hae gotten an ill kame for my ain hair. 
 
 [I have entered upon a troublesome business.] 
 
 I hae ither fish to fry. 
 
 I hae ither tow on my roke. 
 
 I hae mair to do than a dish to wash. 
 
 I hae muckle to do, and few to do for me. 
 
 I hae seen as fou a haggis toom'd on the midden. 
 
 [I have seen people as rich brought to poverty. Another explanation is, 
 I have seen as good an article thrown away.] 
 
 I hae seen mair than I hae eaten, else you wadna hae been there. 
 [" A sharp retort to those who doubt a statement of which the narrator 
 has had ocular demonstration. " — Hislop. 
 
 I hae taen the sheaf frae the mare. 
 
 [I have abandoned my intended journey.] 
 
 ' I hate a' 'bout gates', quo' the wife when she harled her man 
 
 through the ingle. 
 [_' Bout gates, deceitful courses, equivocations.] 
 
 I haud blench aff him. 
 
 \^Blench, a tenure by which land is held, a kind of quit-rent which pays 
 no service.] 
 
 I hope you're nae waur o' your early rising. 
 [Said to those who lie long in bed.] 
 
 I maun do as the beggars do ; when my wame's fou gang awa. 
 
 I may put a' I got frae him in my ce, and see nane the waur o't. 
 
 I ne'er heard it waur tauld.
 
 122 SCO JTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 I ne'er liked a dry bargain. 
 
 I ne'er liked meat that craw'd in my crap. 
 
 ["Spoken when people have done you service and afterwards upbraid you 
 with \1."—Kelly.~\ 
 
 I ne'er liked water in my shoon, and my v/ame is made o' better 
 
 leather. 
 
 I pricked nae louse since I soled your Jiose, and then I might 
 
 hae pricked a thousand. 
 [" An answer of a tailor to him that calls him ' Pricklouse \" — Kelly.'} 
 
 I think mair o' the kindness than it's a' worth. 
 
 I think mair o' the sight than the ferlie. 
 
 [" I was better pleased that I had my eyes to see it than any pleasure I 
 had in seeing of it." — A'e/Zj'.] 
 
 I think you hae taen the gumple-face. 
 
 I wadna hae your keckling for a' your eggs. 
 
 [Your services do not make up for the annoyance you give.] 
 
 I wadna father you for a' your muck. 
 [Your services are not worth your keep,] 
 
 I wat weel how the world wags. 
 
 [To this is added "he's best liked wha has maistbags."] 
 
 I'll be daddie's bairn and minnie's bairn. 
 
 [" Spoken by them who have no intention to embark into the interest of 
 any of the contending parties." — Kelly.'] 
 
 I'll big nae sandy mills wi' you. 
 
 \_To big a sandy mill with, to be in a state of intimacy with. Referring 
 to the practice of children building houses of sand for amusement.] 
 
 I'll do as the cow o' Forfar did — tak a standing drink. 
 
 [" Spoken when we come into company b}' chance or refuse to sit down. 
 A woman in Forfar set out her wort to cool, a cow came by and 
 drank it out. The owner was sued for damages, but was acquit 
 because the cow took but a standing drink." — Kelly.'] 
 
 I'll draw the belt nearer the ribs. 
 
 [" I will retrench my expenses." — Kelly.] 
 
 I'll gar his ain gartens bind up his ain hose. 
 
 [" What expense his business requires I will take out of his own money." 
 —Kelly.] 
 
 I'll get a better fore-speaker than you for nought. 
 
 I'll gie you a bane to pick that winna stick in your teeth. 
 
 I'll gie you a sark fou o' sair banes.
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 I'll gie you let-a-bee for let-a-bee, like the bairns o' Kelty. 
 
 . \^Let-a-bee/or let-a.bee, mutual forbearance.] 
 I'll keep my mind to mysel, and tell my tale to the wind. 
 I'll learn you to lick for supping is dear. 
 I'll mak a rope o' draff haud you. 
 
 I'll mak the mantle meet for the man. 
 
 [" I'll pay you according as you serve me."— AW/j'.] 
 
 I'll ne'er brew drink to treat drinkers. 
 
 {Treat, to entreat. I'll ne'er prepare refreshment and entreat people to 
 partake of it against their will.] 
 
 I'll ne'er cast aff me before I gang to lie. 
 
 ["I will not give my goods away before my death."— AW/y.] 
 
 I'll no buy a pig in a pock. 
 
 I'll put dare ahint the door and do 't. 
 
 [Spoken when people say we dare not do such a thing.] 
 
 I'll sair ye a' with the same met (measure). 
 
 I'll say naething but I'll yerk at the thinking. 
 
 I'll tell the bourd, but not the body. 
 
 [I'll tell the story, but not mention the person to whom it refers.] 
 
 I wish I had a string in his lug. 
 
 I wish it may be the first sight you see. 
 
 [Said to them who have eaten something that we designed for ourselves. 
 Also used when one tells us of his having received a promise of 
 something good.] 
 
 I wish you had brose to lay the hair o' your beard. 
 
 ["A disdainful return of a saucy maid to a courtier that she thinks 
 imworthy of her." — Kelly. 1 
 
 I wish you may hae as muckle Scotch as take you to your bed,_ 
 [" Spoken when our companions beginning to take with the drink begin 
 to speak Latin ; believing that by and by they wilf be at that pass 
 that they will be able to speak no language." — Kelly.'] 
 
 I wish you may lamb in your lair, as mony gude ewe has done. 
 [Said to those who lie long in bed.] 
 
 I wish you were laird o' your word. 
 
 I would as soon see your nose cheese and the cat the first bite 
 
 o't. 
 
 I would hae my ee fou. 
 
 I would hae something to look at on Sunday. 
 
 [" Both these spoken when we complain of one's wife or husband that 
 they are not big, comely, or sightly." — Kelly.']
 
 1 24 SCO TTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 I would rather my bannock burn than that you should turn't. 
 [I would dispense with your assistance.] 
 
 I would rather be your Bible than your horse. 
 
 [The latter being overworked, while the former is neglected.] 
 
 If a louse missed its foot on his coat it would break its neck. 
 [For his coat is threadbare.] 
 
 If a' hechts hit. 
 
 [If what was promised be performed.] 
 
 If ane winna anither will, the morn's the market day. 
 
 If e'er you mak a lucky puddin, I'll eat the prick (skewer). 
 
 If I canna do it by might, I can do it by slight. 
 
 If I canna keep my tongue, I can keep my siller. 
 
 If I canna kep geese, I can kep gaislins. 
 
 {_Kep, catch. " If I cannot work my revenge upon the principal author 
 of my injury, I will upon his children, relations, or friends." — 
 Kelly.'\ 
 
 If I coms I maun bring my stool wi' me. 
 
 [" An answer to them who desire you to come where you are not in- 
 vited." — KeUy.~\ 
 
 If I had a dog as daft I would shoot him. 
 
 If it be a faut, it's nae ferlie (wonder). 
 
 If it be ill, it's as ill rused. 
 
 If it winna be a gude shoe, we'll mak a bauchel o't. . 
 
 If it winna sell it winna sour. 
 
 If ony body speir at you, say you watna (don't know). 
 
 If she was my wife I would mak a queen o' her. 
 
 [" I would leave her the whole kingdom to herself, and go to another. " 
 ^KeUy.-\ 
 
 If straiks be gude to gie they'll be gude to tak. 
 
 If this be a feast you hae been at mony. 
 [An apology for a small dinner.] 
 
 If we hae not the warld's wealth, we hae the warld's ease. 
 
 If wishes were horses beggars wad ride, and a' the warld be 
 
 drowned in pride. 
 
 If you be angry, claw your wame. 
 [I care not for your wrath.]
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 125 
 
 If you can spend muckle, put mair on the fire. 
 
 [If you have a great income, spend accordingly. Otherwise given, 
 ' Put mair to the fore ' — that is, lay up the more.] 
 
 If you dinna do ill, dinna do ill like. 
 
 If you dinna haud him, he'll do't a'. 
 [A taunt to a lazy fellow.] 
 
 If you dinna like what I gie you, tak what you brought wi' you. 
 
 If you dinna steal my kail, break not down my dike. 
 
 If you had stuck a knife in my heart, it wadna hae bled. 
 [I was so much surprised.] 
 
 If you laugh at your ain sport, the company will laugh at you. 
 
 If you like the nut, crack it. 
 
 * If you winna come you'll bide,' as Roy said to his bride. 
 
 If you would live for ever, wash the milk frae your liver. 
 
 Ill flesh ne'er made gude broo. 
 
 Ill herds make fat wolves. 
 
 Ill to tak and eith to tire. 
 
 ["Applied to horses, alleging them to be jades who are hard to be 
 catched.' ' — Kelly. ] 
 
 In youth and strength think of age and weakness. 
 
 Ireland will be your hinder end. 
 
 [You will steal and go to Ireland to escape justice.] 
 
 It's a braw thing to be honest. 
 
 [" Commonly a preface to the telling of some thievish or knavish 
 action.' ' — Kelly. 1 
 
 It's a far cry to Lochawe. 
 
 [Or, "It's a far cry to Lochow," the slogan, or war-cry of the clan 
 Campbell, indicating the impossibility of reaching them in the fast- 
 nesses round Loch Awe.] 
 
 It's a gude sight for a blind man to see. 
 
 It's a gude warld, but they're ill that's in't. 
 
 It's a gude warld if it haud. 
 
 [" Spoken to them who take their ease and pleasure now without respect 
 to their future condition." — Kelly. '\ 
 
 It's a hard task to be poor and leal. 
 
 It's a pity fair weather should ever do harm. 
 
 It's a sary collop that's taen aff a chicken.
 
 1 26 SCO TTISH PR 1 ^ERBS. 
 
 It's a sary wooJ that hath ne'er a withered branch in it. 
 
 It's an ill turn that patience winna owercome. 
 
 It's better to sup with a cutty than want a spoon. 
 
 [It is better to have a thing not quite so good in its kind than to want 
 altogether.] 
 
 It's by the head that the cow gies the milk. 
 
 It's drink will you, but no drink shall you. 
 
 It's far to seek and to find, like Meg's maidenhead. 
 
 It's gane I lo'ed you for. 
 
 It's gude mows that fill the wame. 
 
 It's gude to be out of harm's way. 
 
 It's gude to nip the brier in the bud. 
 
 It's ill baith to pay and pray. 
 
 It's ill meddling between the bark and the rind. 
 
 [" It is a troublesome and thankless office to concern ourselves in the 
 jars and outfalls of near relations, as man and wife, parents and 
 children, &c." — Kelly.'] 
 
 It's ill to please a' parties. 
 
 It's ill to tak the breeks aff a Highlandman. 
 
 [Highlanders wear none. Where nothing is, nothing is to be had.] 
 
 'It's just as it fa's,' said the wooer to the maid. 
 
 ["That is, as my affairs and circumstances allow. It took its rise from 
 a courtier, who went to court a maid ; she was dressing supper 
 with a drop at her nose, she asked him if he would stay all night, he 
 answered Just as it /alls, meaning if the drop fell among the meat 
 he would go, if it fell by, he would sia.y."— Kelly.] 
 
 It's like Pathhead lit — soon on, soon aff. 
 
 ILit, dye.] 
 It's like Truffy's courtship — short but pithy. , 
 It's little o' God's might that maks a poor man a knight. 
 It's mair by chance than gude guiding. 
 
 It's merry in the ha' when beards wag a'. 
 
 [" Spoken when we give a share of what is going to every bodj', that all 
 may eat alike." — Kelly.] 
 
 It's muckle gars tailors laugh, but souters girn aye. 
 
 [" A ridicule upon shoemakers who at every stitch grin with the force of 
 drawing through the thread.'' — Kelly.] 
 
 It's nae shift to v/ant.
 
 MISCELLANE US. 1 2 7 
 
 It's neither a far road nor foul gate. 
 
 It's no in your breeks. 
 
 [You have not money enough. You're not able to do it.] 
 
 It's ower far between the kitchen and the ha'. 
 
 * It's ower now,' quo' the wife, when she swallowed her tongue. 
 
 It's short while since the sow bore the lingel. 
 
 It's the best feather in your wing. 
 
 It's time enough to mak my bed when I'm gaun to lie down. 
 
 It's the poor man's office to look, and the rich man canna 
 
 forbear. 
 
 It's time enough to screech when you're struck. 
 
 It's time to cry Oh, when ye're hurt. 
 
 It's time to rise, if it be clean aneath you. 
 
 It's weel said ; but wha'U bell the cat ? 
 
 [A reference to the story of the mice who thought it would be good 
 to have a bell tied to the cat's neck to give v/arning of its apprc^ch 
 but no mouse could be found who would venture to fasten on the 
 bell.] 
 
 It's worth a' you offered for it. 
 
 It gangs as muckle into my heart as my heel. 
 [It does not affect me in the least.] 
 
 It sets a haggis to be roasted. 
 {Sets, becomes.] 
 
 It sets a sow to wear a saddle. 
 
 It sets you not to speak o' him till you wash your mouth wi' 
 
 wine, and dry it wi' a lawn towel. 
 
 It sets you weel to gab wi' your bonnet on. 
 
 It shall ne'er ride, and I gang. 
 [I will not eat it.] 
 
 It were a pity to put a foul hand on't. 
 
 It were a pity to refuse you, you seek so little. 
 
 It will be a feather in your cap. 
 
 It will be a het day gars you startle. 
 
 It will be an ill web to bleach.
 
 1 28 SCOT TISII PR VERBS. 
 
 It will be the last word in your testament. 
 [You will not be induced to do it.] 
 
 It will come in an hour that winna come in a year. 
 
 It will come out yet, like the homel corn. 
 
 [■' Used when we see a young man and a young woman too oft in com- 
 pany, we suspect there will be some effects of that familiarity here- 
 after. "—£:..'//y.] 
 
 It will mak a braw show in a landward kirk. 
 
 [It will make a fine sight in a country church. A jest upon a girl when 
 we see her fond of a new suit.] 
 
 Jouk and let the jaw gae by. 
 
 [Bow down and let the wave pass over you.] 
 
 Just enough, and nae mair, like Janet Howie's shearers' meat. 
 
 Just father, just ; three half-crowns mak five shillings, gie me 
 
 the siller and I '11 pay the man. 
 
 Keek in the stoup was ne'er a gude fellow. 
 
 Keep the head and the feet warm, and the rest will tak nae harm. 
 
 Keep your ain grease for your ain cart-wheels. 
 
 Keep your breath to cool your crowdie. 
 
 [Said to them who talk a great deal to little purpose.] 
 
 Keep your mocks till you're married. 
 
 Keep your kiln-dried taunts for your mouldy haired maidens. 
 
 Keep your mouth shut and your een open. 
 
 Keep your tongue within your teeth. 
 
 Ken yoursel, and your neighbours winna mistak you. 
 
 Kenn'd folk are nae company. 
 
 Kiss my foot, there 's mae flesh there. 
 
 [" Spoken to them who tauntingly say / kiss yotir hands'" — Kelly.'] 
 
 Kiss the hare's foot. 
 
 [" This is spoken to them who come too late to dinner : but I know not 
 the reason of the expression.'' — Kelly. Said to those who are too 
 late for anything. The hare has gone by and left its footprint for 
 you to salute.] 
 
 Kitchen weel is come to town. 
 
 [" Spoken by mothers to their children when they would have them 
 spare what they give them to their bread ; for they have no more 
 to give them." — Kelly.'\
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 129 
 
 Kythe in your ain colours. 
 
 Lang and sma, gude for naething ava. 
 
 Lang leal, lang poor. 
 
 Lang mint, little dint. 
 
 [Long attempted or threatened, little executed.] 
 
 Lang sport turns aft to earnest. 
 
 Lang standing and little offering maks a poor priest. 
 
 Lang tarrowing talcs a' the thanks awa. 
 
 Last to bed, best heard. 
 
 Lay the head o' the sow to the tail o' the gryce. 
 [Put the profit against the loss. ] 
 
 Lay the sib side undermost, and reckon when you rise. 
 
 \_Sib, of kin. "An answer to him that objects against marrying a woman 
 because she is akin to him." — Kelly. '\ 
 
 Lay the sweet side o' your tongue till 't. 
 
 [" An answer to them that ask what they will get to their hasty 
 pudding." — Kelly. '\ 
 
 Lean to the brose ye got in the morning. 
 [Said to one that lolls upon us.] 
 
 Learn your gudedame to mak milk kail. 
 [Teach your grandmother to suck eggs,] 
 
 Leave aff while the play 's gude. 
 
 Leeches kill wi' licence. 
 [Leeches, doctors.] 
 
 Less grey will be your mittens. 
 
 ' Let a' trades live,' quo' the wife, when she burnt her besom. 
 
 Let aye the bell'd wether break the snaw. 
 [Let the most experienced take the lead.] 
 
 Let byganes be byganes. 
 
 Let him haud the bairn that aught the bairn. 
 
 Let him tak a spring on his ain fiddle. 
 [Let him take his own course.] 
 
 Let him that 's cauld blaw the ingle. 
 
 Let him come to himsel, like M'Gibbon's calf. 
 
 Let him cool in the shoon he hetin. •
 
 [30 SCOTTISH PROVERBS. 
 
 Let ilka herring hing by its ain head. 
 
 Let ilka tub stand on its ain bottom. 
 
 Let not the plough stand to kill a mouse. 
 
 [Do not be diverted from your business by every trifle, j 
 
 Let the eird bear the dyke. 
 
 Let the horns gang wi' the hide. 
 
 Let the kirk stand in the kirkyard. 
 [Everything in its place.] 
 
 Let the Lord's leather tak the Lord's weather. 
 
 Let the morn come, and the meat wi't. 
 
 Let the warld shog. 
 
 Let them care that come behind. 
 
 Lick your loof and lay 't in mine, dry leather jeegs aye. 
 
 [" Kiss your hand and give it : spoken facetiously upon some good 
 fortune unexpected.'' — Kelly. '[ 
 
 Lie for him, and he '11 swear for you. 
 
 Light lades break nae banes. 
 
 Light lades mak willing horses. 
 
 Lightly come, lightly gang. 
 
 Like is an ill mark 'mang ither folk's sheep. 
 
 Like Moses's breeks, neither shape, form, nor fashion. 
 
 Like the hens, rin aye to the heap. 
 
 Like the laird o' Castlemilk's foals, born beauties. 
 
 Like the man wi' the sair guts, nae getting quat o't. 
 
 Like the Scotchman, aye wise behind the hand. 
 
 Like the Scotchman, steek the stable door when the steed 's 
 
 stown. 
 Like the smith's dog, sleep at the sound o' the hammer, and 
 
 waken at the crunching o' teeth. 
 Like the wabster, stealing through the world. 
 Like the wife wi' the mony dochters, the be-'t is aye hindmost. 
 Listeners ne'er heard a gude tale o' themsels 
 Little can a lang tongue lein (conceal).
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 131 
 
 Little Jock gets the little dish, and that keeps him lang little. 
 [" Poor people are poorly served, which prolongs their poverty." — 
 Kelly. '\ 
 
 Little ken'd and less cared for. 
 
 Little kens the auld wife, as she sits by the fire, what the wind 
 is doing on Hurley-Burley-Swire. 
 
 [" Hurle-burle-svvyre is a passage through a ridge of mountains that 
 separate Nithsdale from Twadale and Clydsdale ; where the 
 mountains are so indented one with another, that there is a per- 
 petual blowing. The meaning is, that they who are at ease know 
 little of the trouble that others are exposed to." — Kelly. '\ 
 
 Little may an auld horse do, if he mayna neicher. 
 
 Little to fear when traitors are true. 
 
 Little troubles the ee, but less the soul. 
 
 Little winning maks a light purse. 
 
 Live upon love, as laverocks do on leeks. 
 
 Loud cheeps the mouse, when the cat's no rustling, 
 f When the cat's away the mice will play.] 
 
 Loud coos the dow, when the hawk's no whistling. 
 
 Mair nice than wise. 
 
 Mak a kiln o't, and creep in at the logie. 
 
 Mak a virtue o' necessity. 
 
 Mak not twa mows o' ae dochter. 
 
 Mak the best o' a bad bargain. 
 
 Malice is aye mindful. 
 
 Masterfu' folk maunna be mensfu'. 
 
 Mastery maws down the meadow. 
 
 Maybe your pat may need my clips. 
 
 [Some day you may require my assistance.] 
 
 May-bee was ne'er a gude honey bee. 
 
 May-bees flie not at this time o' the year. 
 
 [•• A return to them that say Maybe such a thing will come to nass " — 
 
 Kelly.-\ ^ 
 
 May that man ne'er grow fat that wears twa beards beneath ae 
 
 hat. 
 
 [Who is twa-faced or deceitful.]
 
 1 32 SCO TTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 Mint before you strike. 
 
 Mistress before folk, gudewife behind backs ; whare lies the 
 
 dish-clout ? 
 
 Mony a dog is dead since ye \vas whelped. 
 
 Mony a dog will die ere ye fa' heir. 
 
 Mony cooks ne'er made gude kail. 
 
 Mows may come to earnest. 
 [^Mows, jests.] 
 
 Mony a time I hae got a wipe wi' a towel, but never a daub wi' 
 
 a dish-clout before. 
 ["Spoken by saucj' girls when one jeers them with an unworthy sweet- 
 heart. "—A'^/Zy. ] 
 
 Muck and money gae thegither. 
 
 ' Muckle din and little woo,' quo' the deil, when he clippet the sow. 
 
 INIuckle mouthed folk are happy to their meat. 
 
 My dancing days are done. 
 
 My market's made, ye may lick a whip-shaft, 
 [Reply of a betrothed maid to a suitor.] 
 
 My minnie has the lave o't. 
 
 [" Spoken jocosely, when we have no mind to tell a thing all out or sing 
 a song to the end."— /T^/Zy.] 
 
 Naebody is riving your claes to get you. 
 [Nobody will force you against your will] 
 
 Nae carrion will kill a craw. 
 
 Nae equal to you but our dog Sorkie, and he 's dead, and ye 're 
 marrowless. 
 [A taunt to a boaster.] 
 
 Nae fault that the cat hae a clean band, she sets a bonnet sae weel. 
 [" Ironically spoken to them who pretend to do, have, or wear what does 
 not become them." — Kelly.'] 
 
 Nae ferlie ye say sae to me ; ye said the same mony time to your 
 
 ain mither. 
 Nae man can live at peace unless his neighbours please. 
 Nae man can seek his marrow in the kirn sae weel as him that 
 
 has been in 't himsel.
 
 MISCELLANEOUS, 133 
 
 Nae sooner up than the head 's in the ambry. 
 
 Naething is a bare man. 
 
 Naething like stark dead. 
 
 ["A vile malicious proverb ; first used by Captain James Stewart against 
 the noble Earl of Morton, and afterwards applied to the Earl of 
 Strafford and Archbishop Laud," — Kelly.'] 
 
 Naething to do but draw in your stool and sit down. 
 
 [Said to one who courts a woman who is already a householder.J 
 
 Nae weather ill, if the wind be still, 
 
 Nae wonder ye're auld like, ilka thing fashes you. 
 
 Nae penny, nae pardon . 
 
 Name not a rape in the house o' ane that was hanged. 
 
 Nane but poets and knaves lay wagers. 
 
 Nane can mak a bore, but ye '11 find a pin for 't, 
 [You are always ready with an answer or excuse.] 
 
 Near's my kirtle, but nearer's my sark. 
 
 Near's my sark, but nearer's my skin. 
 
 [Some are nearer to me than others, but I am next to myself.] 
 
 Nearer God 's blessing than Carlisle fair. 
 
 ["You need but go to your closet for the one, but you must go out of 
 the kingdom for the other." — Kelly.'] 
 
 Nearer the kirk, the farer frae grace. 
 
 Neck or naething, the king likes nae cripples, 
 
 [" A profane jest upon those who are like to fall, wishing that they may 
 eitherjbreak their neck or come off safe, for breaking a limb will 
 make them useless subjects." — Kelly.] 
 
 Ne'er bite unless you mak your teeth meet. 
 
 Ne'er gang to the deil wi' the dish-clout on your head, 
 
 ["If you will be a knave, be not in a trifle but in something of value.' '— 
 Kelly.] 
 
 Ne'er gie me my death in a toom dish. 
 [Give me to eat.] 
 
 Never is a lang term. 
 
 Ne'er let on, but laugh in your ain sleeve. 
 
 Ne'er marry a pennyless maiden, wha 's proud 0' her pedigree. 
 
 Ne'er rax aboon your reach. 
 
 Ne'er run your enemy to the wa'.
 
 134 SCO TTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 Ne'er say Go, but gang. 
 
 Ne'er show your teeth unless you can bite. 
 
 Ne'er strive against the stream. 
 
 Ne'er take a forehammer to break an egg, when a nap wi' a 
 
 knife will do. 
 Ne'er throw the bridle o' your horse ower a fool's arm. 
 Ne'er use the taws when the gloom will do. 
 Ne'er was a wife weel pleased coming frae the mill but ane, and 
 
 she brak her neck bane. 
 Ne'er waur happen you than your ain prayer. 
 Nineteen naesays is half a grant. 
 Now is now, and Yule's in winter. 
 
 Of a' the meat i' the warld drink gaes best down. 
 
 On painting and fighting look adreich. 
 
 On the 25th October, there 's ne'er a souter sober. 
 [St. Crispin's day.] 
 
 * Onything becomes a gude face,' quo' the monkey, when he looked 
 
 himsel i' the glass. 
 
 Our bosom friends are sometimes our backbiters. 
 
 Out o' sight out o' mind. 
 
 Out o' the peat-pat into the mire : 
 
 Out o' the frying pan into the fire. 
 
 Out on the highgate is aye fair play. 
 [Honesty is the best policy.] 
 
 Ower fine a purse to put a plack in. 
 
 [Said of a splendid house on a small estate.] 
 
 Ower holy was hanged, but rough and sonsy wan awa, 
 
 Ower muckle cookery spoils the brochan. 
 
 Ower strong meat for your weak stamach. 
 [Said to old men when they mai'ry young girls.] 
 
 Own debt and crave days.
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 135 
 
 Pay him hame in his ain coin. 
 
 Penny wise, and pound foolish. 
 
 Pigs may whistle, but they hae an ill mouth for 't, 
 [Such a thing is very unlikely.] 
 
 Pith is gude at a' plays but threading o' needles. 
 
 Poor folk seek meat for their stamachs, and rich folk stamachs 
 
 for their meat. 
 
 Pretty man, I maun say ; tak a peat and sit down. 
 
 [Kelly says this is "an ironical expresMon to a mean boy, who would 
 gladly be esteemed," and gives as its Erglish equivalent. " You're 
 a man among the geese when the gander is away."] 
 
 Provision in season maks a rich house. 
 
 Puddins and paramours should be hetly handled. 
 
 Puddins and wort are hasty dirt. 
 
 Pu' the rose and leave the thorn. 
 
 Put on your spurs, and be at your speed. 
 
 Put the saddle on the right horse. 
 
 Put your shanks in your thanks, and mak gude gramashes o' 
 
 them. 
 [An answer to those that offer only thanks for payment.] 
 
 Quey calfs are dear veal. 
 
 [Because they should be kept for stock.] 
 
 Quietness is best. 
 
 Rab Gibb's contract — stark love and kindness. 
 [Used when drinking to a friend.] 
 
 Raw leather raxes weel. 
 
 Raise nae mair deils than ye can lay. 
 
 Reavers shoudna be ruers. 
 
 Red wood maks nae spindles. 
 
 Remember me to your bedfellow when you lie alone. 
 
 Remove an auld tree and it will wither. 
 
 Ride fair and jaup nane. 
 
 {"Taken from riding through a puddle: but applied to too home jest- 
 ing." — Kelly ^
 
 1 36 SCO TTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 Ripe fruit is soonest rotten. 
 
 Rob Peter to pay Paul. 
 
 Roose the fair day at e'en. 
 
 [Wait for the result of the project before you praise it.] 
 
 Roose the ford as ye find it. 
 
 Rue and thyme grow baith in ae garden. 
 
 * Saft beddin's gude for sair banes,' quo' Howie, when he 
 
 streekit himsel on the midden head. 
 Sair yoursel, and your friends will think the mair o' you. 
 Sair yoursel till your bairns grow up. 
 Satan reproving sin. 
 ' Saut,' quo' the souter, when he had eaten a' the cow but the 
 
 tail. 
 
 [" Spoken to them that flag, when they have almost finished a difficult 
 task." — Kelly. '\ 
 
 See for love and buy for siller. 
 
 Send you to the sea, and ye wouldna get saut water. 
 
 [" Spoken when people foolishly come short of their errand."— AV/Zy.} 
 
 Set a thief to catch a thief. 
 
 Set your knee to't and right it. 
 
 Shame fa' the dog, that when he hunted you, didna gar you rin 
 
 faster. 
 
 She brak her elbock on the kirk door. 
 
 LSaid of an industrious maiden when she becomes a lazy wife.] 
 
 She frisks about like a cat's tail i' the sun. 
 
 She has an ill paut wi' her hind foot. 
 [She is stubborn.] 
 
 She hauds up her gab like an awmous dish. 
 
 She hauds up her head like a hen drinking water. 
 
 She's greeting at the thing that she laughed at fern-year. 
 [She is in labour.] 
 
 She's no to be made a sang about. 
 
 ["An abatement to a woman's commendation for beauty." — Kelly. '\
 
 M ISC EL LAXE OUS. 137 
 
 She'll be a gude sale wisp. 
 
 [*' Dissuading from marrying a famed beauty lest she bring too many- 
 visitants to the house ; or persuading those that keep a pubHc house 
 to hire a handsome maid that people may come to the house for her 
 sake." — Kelly. '\ 
 
 She'll keep her ain side o' the house, and gang on yours. 
 
 Short folk are soon angry — their heart's near their mou. 
 
 Sic things will be if we sell drink, 
 
 [" Spoken of a particular inconveniency that follows such a trade, pro- 
 fession, or way of living." — Kelly.'\ 
 
 Sindle seen, soon forgotten. 
 
 Sit down and rest you, and tell us how they drest you, and how 
 
 you wan awa. 
 [Join our company.] 
 
 Sit on your seat, and nane will rise you. 
 
 Skill is nae burden. 
 
 Slow at meat, slow at wark. 
 
 Some ane has tauld her she was bonnie. 
 
 Some folk look up and ithers look down. 
 
 ' Sour plooms,' quo' the tod, when he couldna climb the tree. 
 
 Suters and tailors count hours. 
 
 [" Spoken when people offer to break company because such an hour is 
 past."— /r^//j/.] 
 
 Speak gude o' pipers, your father was a fiddler. 
 
 Strike the iron when it's het. 
 
 Sup wi' your head, your horner is dead ; he's dead that made 
 
 the munsie. 
 [" Spoken to a child when he calls for a spoon for any liquid thing, 
 advising him rather to take it out of the pipkin with his mouth, as 
 ladies do tea or coffee.'' — Kelly.'] 
 
 Supp'd out wort ne'er made gude ale. 
 
 [" Spoken when one asks us a drink of our wort, for what is drunk in 
 wort will never be ale, good or bad." — Kelly.] 
 
 Sure bind, sure find. 
 
 Sweet in the on-taking, but sour in the aff-putting. 
 
 [" Spoken of debt for the most part, but applied to sin, sensual pleasure 
 and the like." — Kelly.]
 
 138 SCOT TISH PR VERBS. 
 
 Tak a man by his word and a cow by the horn. 
 
 Tak a mell and fell he that gies a' to his bairns and keeps nane 
 
 to himsel. 
 
 Tak a piece, ye're teeth's langer than your beard. 
 [Said to children.] 
 
 Tak a spring on your ain fiddle, and dance when ye're done. 
 
 Tak care o' that man whom God hath set his mark upon. 
 
 Tak him up on his fine eggs, and ane o' them rotten. 
 
 Tak the bit and the buffet wi't. 
 
 Tappit hens like cock-crawing. 
 
 Tarry breeks pay nae freight. 
 
 [Those of a trade assist one another.] 
 
 Tarry lang brings little hame. 
 
 Tell nae tales out o' the school. 
 
 That bolt cam ne'er out of your bag. 
 
 That's a tee'd ba'. 
 
 That's as ill as the ewes in the yard, and nae dogs to hunt them. 
 [There's nothing wrong.] 
 
 That's ca'ing saut to Dysart and puddins to Tranent. 
 
 That's felling twa dogs wi' ae stane. 
 
 That's for you and butter is for fish. 
 [The thing fits nicely.] 
 
 That's gee-luget drink. 
 
 [" When a thing does not please us we wag our head, but when we are 
 pleased we give a nod on the one side ; spoken when we get 
 excellent drink." — Kelly.'] 
 
 That's Hackerston's cow, a' the tither way. 
 
 [" Hackerston was a lawyer who gave leave to one of his tenants to put 
 a weak ox into his park to recruit ; a heifer of Hackerston's run 
 upon the ox and gored him ; the man tells him that his ox had 
 killed his heifer ; Why then, says Hackerston, your ox must go for 
 my heifer, the law provides that. No, says the man, your cow 
 killed my ox. The case alters there, says he. Spoken when people 
 alter their opinions when the case comes home to themselves." — 
 Kelly.'] 
 
 That's like seeking for a needle in a bundle o' strae. 
 
 That's my tale : whare's yours ? 
 
 That's the way to marry me, if ere you chance to do it.
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 139 
 
 That's waur and mair o't. 
 
 That winna be a mote in your marriage. 
 
 The auld withie-tree should hae a new yett hung on't. 
 
 The back o' ane is the face o' twa. 
 
 The banes o' a great estate are worth the picking. 
 
 The death o' a wife, and the standing o' sheep, is the best thing 
 
 ever cam ower a poor man. 
 The drunken man gets aye the drunken penny. 
 The Englishman greets, the Irishman sleeps, but the Scotchman 
 
 gangs till he gets it. 
 
 The e'ening brings a' hame. 
 
 The farest way about is aft the nearest way hame. 
 
 The first gryce and the last whelp o' the litter, are a)-e the best. 
 
 The first puff o' a fat haggis is aye the bauldest. 
 
 [" If you wrestle with a fat man and sustain his first onset, he will soon 
 be out of breath." — Kelly. ~\ 
 
 The friar preached against stealing while he had the pudding in 
 
 his sleeve. 
 
 The goat gies a gude milking, but she ca's ower the cog wi' her 
 
 feet. 
 [Many persons though useful are troublesome.] 
 
 The goose pan aboon the roast. 
 
 The grace o' a grey bannock is in the baking o 't. 
 
 The greatest rogue aye first cries Fire ! 
 
 The hen's egg' gaes to the ha' to bring the goose's egg awa. 
 
 [" Spoken when poor people give small gifts to be doubly repaid." — 
 Kelly. 1 
 
 The higher that the tree grows, the sweeter grows the plooms ; 
 
 The langer that the souter works, the blacker grows his thumbs. 
 
 The lean dog is a' flaes. 
 
 The mair the camel is bowed down, the better it serveth. 
 
 The mair the merrier ; the fewer better cheer. 
 
 The next time you dance ken wha you tak by the hand. 
 
 [" Spoken to them who have imprudently engaged with some who have 
 been too cunning or too hard for them." — Kelly.'}
 
 1 40 SCO 7 TISH PR VERBS. 
 
 The poor man's shilling is but a penny. 
 [Because he must buy at the dearest rate,] 
 
 The reek o' my ain house is better than the fire o' my neighbour's. 
 
 The richer the souter, the blacker his thumbs. 
 
 The thatcher said to his man — ' Let's raise this ladder if we 
 can,' — ' But first let us drink, master.' 
 
 The thiefer like, the better sodger. 
 
 The unsonsy fish aye gets the unlucky bait. 
 
 The weak aye gaes to the wa'. 
 
 The wife's ae dochter, and the man's ae cow. 
 
 The taen is ne'er weel, and the tither's ne'er fou. 
 
 There 's a bonnie reason, wi' a clout about the foot o 't. 
 [That is, a lame reason.] 
 
 There 's a day o' reckoning, and anither day o' payment. 
 
 There 's a sliddery stane before the ha' door. 
 
 [" A slippery stone may make one fall : signifying the uncertainty of 
 court favour and the promises of great men." — Kelly. 1 
 
 There 's a teuch sinnen in an auld wife's neck. 
 
 There 's a whaup in the rape. 
 [There 's something amiss.] 
 
 There 's as mony Johnstones as Jardines. 
 [As many on one side as on the other.] 
 
 There 's aye a glum look whare there 's cauld crowdie. 
 
 There 's kail in the cat's wame. 
 
 There 's life in a mussel as lang as it can cheep. 
 
 There 's life in a mussel although it be little. 
 
 There 's muckle ado when burghers ride. 
 
 There 's muckle ado when dominies ride. 
 
 There 's muckle between the word and the deed. 
 
 There 's muckle hid meat in a goose's ee. 
 
 There 's nae fay folk's meat in my pat. 
 
 There ne'er was a fire without some reek. 
 
 There ne'er was a poor man in his kin. 
 
 There ne'er was a silly Jockey but what there was a silly Jenny.
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 141 
 
 There was a wife wha kept her supper for her breakfast, and she 
 
 died ere day. 
 
 There was ne'er aneugh whare naething was left. 
 
 * They're a bonny pair,' as the craw said o' his legs. 
 
 They're aye gude that's far awa. 
 
 They're aye gude will'd o' their horse that hae nane. 
 
 They're far behind that may not follow. 
 
 They're keen o' company that taks the dog on their back. 
 
 They mense little the mouth that bite aff the nose. 
 
 [" Spoken when people who pretend friendship for you traduce your 
 near friends and relations." — Kelly.'] 
 
 They ne'er gae wi' the spit but they gat wi' the ladle. 
 [They never gave anything without getting a return for it.] 
 
 They ne'er saw a haggis that think a puddin a feast. 
 
 They ne'er saw dainties that think a haggis a feast. 
 
 They that bourd wi' cats, maun count on scarts. 
 
 They that burn you for a witch will lose their coals. 
 
 They that finds keeps, they that losses seeks. 
 
 They that never filled a cradle shoudna sit in ane. 
 
 ["Because such will not consider whether there may be a child in it, 
 whereas they who have had children will be more cautious.'* — Kelly,'] 
 
 They were never fain that fidged, nor fou that licket dishes. 
 
 They were never first at the wark wha bade God speed the 
 
 wark. 
 They wist as weel wha didna speir. 
 This and better may do, but this and waur will ne'er do. 
 Thoughts are free, and though I say little, I yerk at the 
 
 thinking. 
 Thoughts beguile maidens, and sae fares wi' you that 's nane. 
 Threatened folk live lang. 
 Three can keep a secret if twa be awa. 
 Tine heart and a' is gane. 
 Touch pot, touch penny.
 
 1 42 SCO! TISH PR VERBS. 
 
 Touch not my sair heel. 
 
 Tramp on a snail and it will shoot out its horns. 
 
 Travellers hae liberty to lie. 
 
 Travellers' words are no aye to be trusted. 
 
 True blue will never stain, but dirty red will dye again. 
 
 Twa gudes seldom meet, what 's gude for the plant is ill for the 
 
 peat. 
 
 Twa hands in ae dish, but ana in a purse. 
 
 Twine tow, your minnie was a gude spinner. 
 
 [" Spoken to those who curse you or rail upon you, as if you would say, 
 take what you say to yourself." — Kelly. '\ 
 
 Unseen, unrued. 
 
 Up hill spare me, down hill tak tent o' thee. 
 
 Walie, walie ! bairns are bonnie ; ane's aneugh and twa's ower 
 
 mony. 
 
 We hounds slew the hare, quo' the messan. 
 
 We will bark ourselves, rather than buy dogs sae dear. 
 [Said when too much is asked foi what we desire to purchase.] 
 
 Wealth in a widow's house is kail without saut. 
 
 Weel 's him, and wae 's him, that has a bishop in his kin. 
 
 [" Because such may be advanced, and perhaps disappointed." — Kelly. ~\ 
 
 Weel, quo' Wylie, when his ain wife dang him. 
 
 W^eel, quo' Wallace, and then he leugh, 
 
 The king o' France has gowd aneugh. 
 
 And ye '11 get it a' for the winning. 
 
 Wha canna gie will little get. 
 
 Wha comes sae aften and brings sae little? 
 
 Whare vice is, vengeance follows. 
 
 What better is the house that the daw rises soon ? 
 
 W^hat maks you sae rumgunshach, and me sae curcuddoch ? 
 
 ["A jocose return to them who speak hastily to us when we speak 
 kindly to them. More used for the two comical words than 
 anything else.''— iTf/Zy.]
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. I43 
 
 What may be done at ony time is done at nae time. 
 
 What puts that in your head that didna put the sturdy wi't? 
 
 [" Spoken to them that speak foolishly, or tell a story that you thought 
 they had not known." — Kelly.'\ 
 
 What the ee sees not the heart rues not. 
 
 What you want up and down you hae hither and yont. 
 
 ["Spoken to them who are low of stature, but broad and squat" — 
 Kelly.'] 
 
 When ae door steeks, anither ane opens. 
 
 When a' is in, and the slap dit, rise herd and let the dog sit. 
 
 [" Jocosely spoken to herd boys after harvest, as if there was no farther 
 use for them." — Kelly. ~\ 
 
 When a' men speaks, nae man hears. 
 
 When he dies o' auld age, ye may quake for fear. 
 [For you are not much younger.] 
 
 When horns and hair owergang the man, 
 
 There 's little hope o' the creature than. 
 * When is there to be an end o't?' quo' Wylie, when he wauchlet 
 
 through the midden. 
 
 When it was, and not Where it was. 
 
 When lairds break, carls get land. 
 
 When the gudeman 's awa, the board-claith 's tint. 
 [The commons will be short.] 
 
 When the gudewife 's awa, the keys are tint. 
 
 [You'll get no drink.] 
 
 When the hen gaes to the cock, the birds may get a knock. 
 
 When the tod preaches, tak care o' the lambs. 
 
 When thieves cast out, honest folk come to their ain. 
 
 When you're sair'd, a' the geese are watered. 
 
 When you're a' study, lie you still ; 
 
 When you're a hammer, strike your fill. 
 [Study, Anvil. J 
 
 When you christen the bairn, ye ken what to ca 't. 
 
 Where will you get a park to put your yeld kye in ? 
 
 [" Spoken to them who without any reason boast of their good manage- 
 ment. "—A'^/Zj'.]
 
 1 44 SCO TTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 Whelps are aye blind that dogs get in haste. 
 
 Whiles you, and whiles me, sae gaes the baillierie. 
 
 [" Spoken when persons and parties get authority by turns." — Kelly. '\ 
 
 Whitely things are aye tender. 
 
 Will and wit strive wi' you. 
 
 Without crack or flaw. 
 
 Wonder at your auld shoon, when you hae gotten your new. 
 
 [" An answer to them that say they wonder at you or what you do."— 
 Kelly.-l 
 
 Words are but wind, but dunts are the deil. 
 
 Work in God's name, and sae doesna the deil. 
 
 Ye're a corby messenger. 
 
 [A messenger who returns not at all or too late, alluding to the raven 
 in Noah's ark.] 
 
 Ye're a deil and nae cow like the man's bull. 
 
 Ye're a foot behind the foremost. 
 
 Ye're a gude seeker but an ill finder. 
 
 Ye're a maiden marrowless. 
 
 Ye're a man among geese when the gander's awa. 
 
 Ye're a rich rogue wi' twa sarks and a rag. 
 
 Ye're a sweet nut for the deil to crack. 
 
 Ye're a' blawing like a bursten haggis. 
 
 Ye're a' out o't and into strae. 
 [Quite mistaken.] 
 
 Ye're ane o' Cow-meek's breed, you'll stand without a bonoch. 
 
 Ye're an honest man and I'm your uncle, and that's twa great 
 
 lies. 
 
 Ye're as daft as ye're days auld. 
 
 Ye're as lang tuning your pipes as anither would play a spring. 
 [You're as long in setting about a thing, as another would do it,] 
 
 Ye're as mim as a May puddock. 
 
 Ye're as muckle as half a witch. 
 
 Ye're at the lug o' the law. 
 
 [Ready to catch at what's going.]
 
 MISCELLANE US. 1 45 
 
 Ye're bonnie enough to them that like you, but mair sae to them 
 
 that like you and canna get you. 
 Ye're but beginning yet, as the wife did that ran wud. 
 Ye're cawking the claith ere the wab be in the loom. 
 Ye're come o' bluid and sae is a puddin. 
 Ye're Davy-do-little, and gude for naething. 
 Ye're fit for coarse country wark — ye're rather strong than 
 
 handsome. 
 
 Ye're gude to be sent for sorrow. 
 [You tarry long on an errand.] 
 
 Ye're gude to fetch the deil a priest. 
 [Same as the preceding.] 
 
 Ye're like Brackley's tup — ye follow the lave. 
 
 Ye're like Laird Hoodie's greyhounds — unca hungry like about 
 
 the pouch lids. 
 Ye're like Laniington's mare — ye break brawly afif, but soon 
 
 gie up. 
 
 [You begin well, but afterwards fall behind.] 
 
 Ye're like Piper Bennet's bitch — lick till ye burst. 
 
 Ye're like the chapman — ne'er aff your road. 
 [You make business wherever you go.] 
 
 Ye're like the corncraiks — aftener heard than seen. 
 
 Ye're like the gowk — ye hae nae sang but ane. 
 
 Ye're like the Kilbarchan calves — like best to drink wi' the 
 
 wisp in your mouth. 
 
 Ye're like the man that sought his horse, and him on its back. 
 
 Ye're like the miller's dochter — speirs what tree groats grow on. 
 [" Spoken when saucy fellows, bred of mean parentage, pretend 
 ignorance of what they were bred with." — Kelly. '\ 
 
 Ye're like the miller's dog — ye lick your lips or the pock be 
 opened. 
 [Said to covetous people.] 
 Ye're like the singet cats — better than ye're likely.
 
 1 46 SCO TTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 Ye're like the stirk's tail — ye grow to the ground. 
 
 Ye're like the swine — ye'U neither lead nor drive. 
 
 Ye're like the wife's dochter — better than ye're bonnie. 
 
 Ye're looking ower the nest, like the young crav/s. 
 
 Ye're mair fley'd than hurt. 
 
 Ye're nae chicken for a' your cheeping. 
 
 Ye're new come ower, your heart's nipping. 
 
 Ye're no light where ye lean a'. 
 
 [Said to those that loll on us.] 
 
 ' Ye're no sae far travelled as you look like', quo' the wife to the 
 
 black chapman, when he was trying to cheat her. 
 
 Ye're o' sae mony minds ye'U ne'er be married. 
 
 Ve're out and in like a dog at a fair. 
 
 Ye're ower auld-farren to be fleyed wi' bogles. 
 
 Ye're ower het and ower fou, like few o' the laird's tenants. 
 
 Ye're ower strait shod. 
 [You are too fastidious.] 
 
 Ye're sair fashed hauding naething thegether. 
 
 V'e're sair stressed stringing the milsie. 
 
 \Stri7tging the milsie, taking off the cloth of the milk strainer, wringing 
 it out, and tying it on again. The proverb means you make much 
 ado about nothing.] 
 
 Ye're seeking the thing that's no tint. 
 
 Ye're sick but no sair handled. 
 
 Ye're sleeping as the dogs do when the wives bake. 
 
 Ye're souple sark alane, some are mither naked. 
 
 {Sark alane, with your shirt on. Said to those that boast of their 
 activity.] 
 
 Ye're the weight o' Jock's cog, brose and a'. 
 
 Ye're there yet and your belt hale. 
 
 Ye're thrifty and through thriving. 
 
 Ye're welcome, but ye'U no win ben. 
 
 [" A civil denial of what we ask," — Kelly ^ 
 
 Ye blush like a beggar at a bawbee.
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. I47 
 
 Ye breed o' auld maidens, you look high. 
 
 Ye breed o' nettle-kail and cock-lairds, ye need muckle service. 
 
 Ye breed o' Sangster's swine, your neb is never out o' an ill turn. 
 
 Ye breed o' the chapman, ye 're aye to hansel. 
 
 Ye breed o' the craw's tail, ye grow backwards. 
 
 Ye breed o' the herd's wife, ye busk at e'en. 
 
 [" Spoken to them who are long before they dress." — Kelly.'\ 
 
 Ye breed o' the laird, ye '11 do nae right, and ye '11 tak nae wrang. 
 
 Ye breed o' the tod's brains, if ane be gude, they're a' gude. 
 
 Ye breed o' the witches, ye can do nae gude to yoursel. 
 
 Ye cam a day after the fair. 
 
 Ye canna preach out o' your ain pu'pit. 
 
 Ye come in clipping time. 
 
 Ye come o' the M'Taks but no o' the M'Gies. 
 [You take what you can get, but will give nothing.] 
 
 Ye come to the gait's house to thigg woo. 
 [Gait, goat. You come for what we can't give.] 
 
 Ye cut lace whangs afif ither folk's leather. 
 
 Ye dinna aye ride when you put on your spurs. 
 
 Ye dinna aye ride when you saddle your horse. 
 
 Ye drive the plough before the owsen. 
 
 Ye fand it whare the Highlandman fand the tangs. 
 
 [At the fireside. Said to those who having stolen something say they 
 found it.] 
 
 Ye gang round by Lanark, for fear Linton dogs bite you. 
 
 Ye get baith the skaith and the scorn. 
 
 Ye got ower muckle o' your will, and you're the waur o 't. 
 
 Ye hae a ready mouth for a ripe cherry. 
 
 Ye hae a streak o' carl hemp in you. 
 
 \Carl-he7np, the largest stalk of hemp, figuratively firmness of mind.] 
 
 Ye hae brought the pack to the preens. 
 [You have dwindled away your stock.] 
 
 Ye hae ca'd your hogs to an ill market. 
 
 Ye hae fasted lang, and worried on a midge.
 
 148 SCOTTISH PROVERBS. 
 
 Ye hae gien the wolf the wethers to keep. 
 
 [" You have entrusted a thing to one who will lose it, spoil it, or use it 
 himself." — Kelly. '\ 
 
 Ye hae gotten a ravell'd hesp to redd. 
 [A difficult matter to arrange.] 
 
 Ye hae nae mair sense than a hen would hand in her faulded 
 
 Ye hae nae mair sense than a sucking turkey. 
 
 Ye hae skill o' man and beast and dogs that tak the sturdy. 
 [Ridiculing those that pretend to skill.] 
 
 Ye hae staid lang, and brought little wi' you. 
 
 Ye hae the chapman's drought (hunger). 
 
 Ye hae the wrang sow by the lug. 
 
 Ye ken naething but milk and bread, and that mool'd in. 
 [You know or care for nothing but your food.] 
 
 Ye ken not whase ladle may cog your own kail yet. 
 
 Ye ken what drunkards dree. 
 
 Ye look as bauld as a black-faced wether. 
 
 Ye look as bauld as a cuddie-ass in a lion's skin. 
 
 Ye look like a Lochaber-axe new frae the grundstane. 
 
 \_Lockaber--axe, a large halbert, having a hatchet in front, and a strong 
 hook behind for lajdng hold of the object assaulted.] 
 
 Ye look like a Murrayman melting brass. 
 
 ' Ye look like a rinner,' quo' the deil to the lobster. 
 [Said to those who are unlikely to do what they pretend o.] 
 
 Ye look like the deil in daylight. 
 
 Ye look liker a deil than a bishop. 
 
 Ye loup like a cock at a groset. 
 
 Ye mak me seek the needle whare I stuck it not, 
 
 [" That is, send me a begging. Spoken to thriftless wives and spending 
 children ." — Kelly. ] 
 
 Ye maun be auld ere ye pay a gude wad. 
 
 Ye may be godly, but ye '11 ne'er be cleanly. 
 
 Ye may dight your neb and flee up, 
 
 ["Taken from pullets who alwaj^s wipe their bill upon the ground before 
 they go to roost." — Kelly. Your opinion is a matter of indifference 
 to us.]
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 149 
 
 Ye may tak a drink out o' the burn when you canna tak a bite 
 
 out o' the brae. 
 
 Ye met (measure) my peas \vi' your ain peck. 
 
 Ye needna lay thereout for want o' a nest egg. 
 [Said to him that has a handsome young wife.] 
 
 Ye needna put the water by your ain mill. 
 
 Ye ne'er bought saut to the cat. 
 
 [" You know not what it is to provide for a family." — Kelly. 1 
 
 Ye ride sae near the rumple, ye '11 let nane loup on ahint you. 
 
 Ye rin for the spurtle when the pat's rinning ower. 
 
 Ye would be a gude piper's bitch, ye smell out the weddings. 
 
 Ye sair'd me as the wife sair'd the cat — first put her in the kirn, 
 
 and then hauled her out. 
 
 Ye seek grace wi' a graceless face. 
 
 Ye shanna be niffer'd but for a better. 
 
 Ye shape my shoon by your ain schachled feet. 
 [You judge of me by yourself.] 
 
 Ye speak unspoken to. 
 
 Ye was ne'er born at that time o' the year. 
 
 [" Spoken to them that expect such a place, station or condition, which 
 we think above their birth." — Kelly. 'X 
 
 Ye was ne'er far frae your mither's hip. 
 
 Ye was put out o' the oven for nipping the pies. 
 
 Ye watna what's behind your back. 
 
 Ye'll beguile nane but them that trust you. 
 
 Ye'U die without amends o't. 
 
 Ye'll drink before me. 
 
 Ye'll follow him lang or he let five shillings fa'. 
 
 Ye'll gar him claw a sair haffit. 
 
 Ye'll gar him claw whare it's no youky. 
 
 Ye'll get better when you mend. 
 
 Ye'll get him whare you left him. 
 [Spoken of even tempered people.]
 
 1 50 SCO TTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 Ye'll get your gear again, and they will get the widdie that 
 
 stole 't. 
 
 Ye'll hae the half o' the gate, and a' the mire. 
 
 Ye'll hang a' but the head yet. 
 
 Ye'll let naething tine for want o' seeking. 
 
 Ye'll ne'er be sae auld wi' sae muckle honesty. 
 
 Ye'll ne'er cast saut on his tail. 
 
 Ye'll ne'er craw in my cavie. 
 
 [You'll never be welcome in my house. Similar to this is " Ye'll ne'er 
 rowte in my tether."] 
 
 Ye'll ne'er get honey, whoreson, frae me. 
 
 Ye'll ne'er male a mark in your testament by that bargain. 
 
 Ye'll play a sma game before you stand out. 
 
 Ye're up in the buckle, like John Barr's cat. 
 
 Ye would be gude to fetch the deil a drink. 
 
 Ye would gar me trow that spade shafts bear plooms. 
 
 Ye would lose your lug if it were loose. 
 
 Ye would mak muckle o' me if I was yours. 
 
 You are weel awa, if you bide. 
 
 You burn daylight. 
 
 [You trifle away your time.] 
 
 You canna fare weel but you cry roast-meat. 
 
 You didna draw sae weel when my mare was in the mire. 
 
 You fyke it awa, like auld wives baking. 
 
 You got your will in your first wife's time, and ye shanna want 
 
 it noAv. 
 
 You hae a foot out o' the lingel. 
 
 You hae a Scotch tongue in your head. 
 
 You hae been gotten gathering nuts, you speak in clusters. 
 
 You hae come to a peeled egg. 
 
 You hae hit it, if you had a stick. 
 
 You hae lost the stang o' your trump. 
 
 [You have lost the best member of your family.]
 
 MISCELLANE OUS. 151 
 
 You hae mind o' your meat, though you hae little hap o't. 
 
 You hae put a toom spoon in my mouth. 
 
 You hae sewed that seam wi' a het needle and a burning thread. 
 
 You hce the bitch in a wheel-band. 
 
 [You have got a thing that you cannot keep long.] 
 
 You may gang through Egypt without a pass. 
 
 ["Spoken to people of a swarthy complexion." — Kelly. "[ 
 
 You may dance at the end o' a rape yet, without teaching. 
 
 You sell the bear's skin on his back. 
 
 ["Spoken to them who promise or dispose of a thing that's not in their 
 power." — Kelly. '\ 
 
 You take a bite out o' your ain hip. 
 
 You will get your brose out o' the lee side o' the kail-pat. 
 
 \_"Leeside, the side opposite to the boiling side where the fat is. A jocose 
 promise to give some good thing." — Kelly J] 
 
 You will ne'er let your gear owergang you. 
 
 You rave unrocked, I wish your head was knocked. 
 
 ["Spoken to them that speak unreasonable things, as if they raved." 
 Kelly.^ 
 
 You shanna want as lang as I hae, but look weel to your ain. 
 
 Your bread 's baken, you may hang up your girdle. 
 
 ["Spoken to them who have had great promises made to them." 
 Kelly.-] 
 
 Your een 's no marrows. 
 
 Your feet will ne'er fill your father's shoon. 
 
 Your gear will ne'er owergang you. 
 
 Your head will ne'er fill your father's bonnet. 
 
 Your lugs may hae youked. 
 
 Your mind 's aye chasing mice. 
 
 Your minnie's milk 's no wrung out o' your nose yet. 
 
 Your mouth has beguiled your hands. 
 
 Your musing mars your memory. 
 
 Your purse was steikit when that was paid for. 
 
 Your tongue gangs like a lamb's tail. 
 
 Your wit will ne'er worry you. 
 
 Youth ne'er cast for perils.
 
 WEATHER AND SEASONS. 
 
 January. 
 A kindly gude Janavier will freeze the pot by the fire. 
 March in Janavier, Janavier in March I fear. 
 
 February. 
 
 February fills the dyke either wi' black or white ; 
 
 But if white the better to like. 
 
 [Fills the ditch with rain or snow, but if snow so much the better.] 
 
 A' the months o' the year curse a fair February. 
 
 [Good weather in February is looked upon as an unfavourable symptom 
 of what is to follow. In England there is another proverb : — 
 The Welshman would rather see his dam on her bier. 
 Than see a fair Februeer. 
 
 Candlemas-Day. 
 
 If Candlemas day be fair and bright, 
 
 Winter will hae anither flight. 
 If Candlemas day hae showers and rain, 
 Winter is past, and will not come again. 
 
 When Candlemas day is come and gane, 
 
 The snaw lies on a het stane. 
 The shepherd would as lief see his wife on a bier, 
 As a Candlemas day to be pleasant and clear. 
 
 If Candlemas day be clear and fair. 
 
 The half o' winter 's to come and niair :
 
 WEATHER AND SEASONS. 
 
 53 
 
 If Candlemas day be dark and foul, 
 The half o' winter 's past at Yule, 
 On Candlemas day you maun hae 
 Half your hay, and half your strae. 
 As lang as the bird sings before Candlemas, as lang it sings 
 after Candlemas. 
 
 March. 
 
 March winds and INIay sun 
 
 Mak claes white and lasses dun. 
 
 ?^Iarch comes in wi' an adder's head, and gangs out wi' a 
 
 peacock's tail. 
 
 -March comes like a lion, and gaes out like a lamb. 
 
 March grass never did gude. 
 
 March whisker ne'er was a gude fisher. 
 
 [A windy March is unfavourable to the angler.] 
 
 A windy March ne'er was a gude fish year. 
 
 A peck o' March dust is worth a king's ransom. 
 
 A peck o' March dust is worth a peck o' gowd. 
 
 Sae mony mists in March ye see, 
 
 Sae mony frosts in May will be. 
 On the 22d o' March, the day and the night marches. 
 
 The Furtuch, or Borrowing Days. 
 
 i^The Last Three Days of March, Old Style.) 
 
 March borrows frae April three days, and they are ill ; 
 April borrows frae March again, three days o' wind and rain. 
 
 March said to April, 
 Lend me days three ; 
 I see three hogs (sheep) upon yon hill, 
 I '11 try to gar them dee.
 
 154 SCO TTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 The first day was wind and weet ; 
 
 The second day was snaw and sleet ; 
 
 The third day was sic a freeze, 
 
 It froze the bird's nebs to the trees: — 
 But when the three days were come and gane, 
 The three little hoggies cam toddling hame. 
 
 April. 
 
 The first day of April, send the gowk anither mile. 
 
 April showers bring milk and meal. 
 
 April showers bring summer flowers. 
 
 When April blaws his horn, it is gude for hay and corn. 
 
 The third day of April brings the gowk and nightingale. 
 
 May and June. 
 
 May showers bring milk and meal. 
 
 May floods ne'er did good. 
 
 A peck o' March dust and a shower in May 
 
 Maks the corn green and the fields look gay. 
 
 A wet May and a windy 
 
 Maks a fou barnyard and a findy. 
 
 Come it ear or come it late, in May will come the cow-quake. 
 
 Look at your corn in May, 
 
 And ye'll come weeping away : 
 
 Look at the same in June, 
 
 And ye '11 be in anither tune. 
 
 A leeking May and a warm June, 
 
 Brings on the har'est very soon. 
 
 Cast ne'er a clout till May be out. 
 
 Barnaby bright, the langest day and the shortest night. 
 [St. Barnabas's Day, June nth.]
 
 WEATHER AND SEASONS. 155 
 
 July and August. 
 
 If St. Swithin greets, the proverb says, 
 
 The weather will be foul for forty days. 
 
 As St. Swithin's day is fair or foul, sae is the weather for forty 
 
 days. 
 [St. Swithin's day, July 15th.] 
 
 A shower of rain in July, when the corn begins to fill, 
 
 Is worth a plough of owsen, and a' belangs theretill. 
 
 If the first of July be rainy weather. 
 
 It will rain mair or less for four weeks together. 
 After Lammas corn ripens as much by night as by day. 
 
 If the twenty-fourth of August be fair and clear. 
 
 Then hope for a prosperous autumn that year. 
 
 Dry and Wet. 
 
 A dry simmer ne'er made a dry peck. 
 
 Drouth ne'er bred dearth. 
 
 Under water dearth ; under snaw bread. 
 
 [Snow protects the seed or young grain, much rain spoils it.] 
 
 A Scotch mist will weet an Englishman to the skin. 
 
 He that wad hae a bad day may gang out in a fog after a frost. 
 
 When the mist is on the hill, 
 
 Then gude weather it doth spill : 
 
 When the mist taks to the sea. 
 
 Then gude weather it will be. 
 
 An evening red and a morning grey 
 
 Doth betoken a bonnie day : 
 
 An evening grey and a morning red, 
 
 Put on your hat or ye '11 weet your head. 
 
 A rainbow in the morning is the sailor's warning. 
 
 A rainbow at noon will bring rain very soon. 
 
 A rainbow at night is the shepherd's delight.
 
 1 56 SCO TTISH PRO VERBS. 
 
 If there be a rainbow in the eve, it will rain and leave. 
 
 If there be a rainbow in the morrow, it will neither lend nor 
 
 borrow. 
 Clear in the south beguiled the cadger. 
 In the auld moon a cloudy morning bodes a fair afternoon. 
 A Saturday's moon, if it comes but ance in seven years, comes 
 
 ower often. 
 
 Sowing and Harvest. 
 It 's time to mak the bear-seed when the plane-tree covers the 
 
 craw. 
 
 When the slae-bush is as white as a sheet, 
 Saw your bear, whether it be dry or weet. 
 Saw wheat in dirt, and rye in dust. 
 
 The spring evenings are lang and teuch. 
 
 The har'est evenings are soon ower the heugh. 
 In har'est the lairds are labourers. 
 
 Winter. 
 As the day lengthens the cauld strengthens. 
 Winter's thunder bodes Simmer's hunger. 
 
 Winter's thunder and Simmer's flood, 
 
 Ne'er boded Scotland good. 
 
 Winds, 
 When the wind 's in the west, the weather 's at the best. 
 When the wind 's in the east, it's neither gude for man nor beast. 
 When the wind 's in the south, of rain there will be fouth. 
 When the wind 's still, no weather 's ill. 
 
 Buchanan's Almanac — lang foul, lang fair. 
 What Friday gets it keeps. 
 
 Oysters are only in season in those months that are spelled with 
 with an R.
 
 '57 
 
 SCOTTISH PROVERBIAL PHRASES. 
 
 Relating to Flattery and Promhing, 
 
 I hecht you a hire. 
 
 If ever I be rich and you poor, I ken what ye'se get. 
 
 I '11 gie ye something that '11 no mool in your pouch. 
 
 I '11 kiss you behind the lug, and that '11 no break the bluid in 
 
 your face. 
 I '11 kiss you when ye 're sleeping, and that '11 hinder me frae 
 
 dreaming o' you when ye 're dead. 
 Leese me on thy bonnie mouth that ne'er tauld a fool's tale. 
 Ye 're aye gude, and ye '11 grow fair. 
 Ye '11 be my dear till day. 
 Ye '11 ne'er be changed but for a better. 
 
 In answer to the question^ How (fye do P 
 
 E'en a' the better that you 're weel. 
 No that ill : how are you yoursel ? 
 Very weel : I thank you for speiring. 
 
 Comically. 
 
 A' the better that ye 've speir'd, speir't ower again. 
 As weel as I can, but not sae weel as I would. 
 Brawly, finely, gaily, at least.
 
 58 SCOTTISH PROVERBS. 
 
 Gayen weel, if my mouth ^vas wet. 
 
 Heart hale and sillerless : a hundred pounds would do me nae 
 
 harm. 
 Living, and lairds do nae mair. 
 Living, and life thinking. 
 Living, and life like. 
 
 Loose and living, and bound to nae man. 
 Meat hale. 
 Weel enough, but naething to brag o'. 
 
 Ill-naturedly. 
 
 E'en like yoursel, poor and proud, and something fause. 
 If I dinna do weel, do you better. 
 
 Relating to Threatening. 
 
 I'll bring your Yule belt to the Beltane bore, 
 
 [" Yule or Christmas is a time of feasting ; Beltane or May-Day is a 
 time when meat is scarce. A threatening to stint you in your diet.'* 
 
 I'll ca' the mist frae your een. 
 
 I'll gang as peaceably on you as on the house floor. 
 
 I'll gar the fire flee frae your een. 
 
 I'll gar you blirt wi' baith your een. 
 
 I'll gar you laugh water, 
 
 I'll gar you mak twa o' that. 
 [I'll make you eat your words.] 
 
 I'll gar you rin like sheep frae the shears. 
 
 I'll gar you sing port-yowl. 
 
 I'll gar your harns jaup. 
 
 I'll gie ye on the ae cheek, and kep you on the ither.
 
 SCO TTISH PR VERBIAL PHRASES. 1 59 
 
 I'll gie you a fluet on the cheek-blade, will gar the fire flee frae 
 
 your een-holes. 
 
 I'll gie you a gob-Slake. 
 
 I '11 gie you a sark fou o' sair banes. 
 
 I '11 gie you ane, and lend you anither. 
 
 I '11 gie you the thing ye 're no wanting. 
 
 I'll handle ye wi' the hands I handle mysel wi'. 
 
 I '11 scum your jaws for you. 
 
 [Sirike you on the mouth and prevent you speaking.] 
 
 I'll tak a mote frae your lug. 
 
 I'll tak a rung frae the bougars o' the house, and rizle your 
 
 riggin wi't. 
 
 I '11 tak my hand aff your haffit. 
 
 I '11 watch your water-gate. 
 
 [I'll watch so as to take you at a disadvantage.] 
 
 Relating to the Horse. 
 
 A grunting horse and a graining wife never failed their master. 
 
 A mare wi' a horse's wame, and a horse wi' a mare's. 
 
 A naig wi' a wame and a mare wi' nane. 
 
 An eel back'd dun ne'er left his master ahin. 
 
 He that lets his wife go to every wake, and his horse drink at 
 
 every lake, will never want a whore or a jade. 
 Horses are gude o' a' hues. 
 Let your horse drink what he will, but not when he will. 
 
 Up hill spare me, down hill tak tent o' thee ; 
 
 Up hill spare me, down hill bear me : 
 
 Plain way spare me not ; 
 
 Let me not drink when I'm hot.
 
 [ 6o SCO TTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 Characteristic poi?its of a good Greyhound. 
 
 A head like a snake, 
 A neck like a drake, 
 A back like a beam, 
 A belly like a bream, 
 A foot like a cat, 
 A tail like a rat. 
 
 With a red man, rede thy read : 
 With a brown man, break thy bread ; 
 With a pale man, draw thy knife : 
 With a black man, keep thy wife. 
 
 To travel safely through the world, a man would require, 
 A falcon's eye. 
 An ass's ears, 
 An ape's face, 
 A merchant's words, 
 A camel's back, 
 A hog's mouth, 
 And a hart's legs. 
 
 From the Italian.
 
 i6i 
 
 USEFUL EXTRACTS 
 
 FROM 
 
 THE WORKS OF THOS. TUSSER : Lond. 1573. 
 
 Properties of the Winds at all Seasofis of the Fear, 
 
 Winter. 
 
 North winds send hail, south winds bring rain ; 
 East winds we bewail, west winds blow amain : 
 North-east is too cold, south-east not too warm ; 
 North-west is too bold, south-west doth no harm. 
 
 Spring. 
 
 The north is a noyer* to grass of all suites ; 
 The east a destroyer to herb and all fruits. 
 
 Summer. 
 
 The south, with his showers, refresheth the corn ; 
 The west, to all flowers, may not be forborne. 
 
 Autumn. 
 
 The west, as a father, all goodness doth bring ; 
 
 The east a forbearer no manner of thing ; ^ 
 
 * Injurious. 
 M
 
 1 62 SCOTTISH PROVERBS. 
 
 The south, as unkind, draweth sickness too near 
 The north, as a friend, maketh all again clear. 
 With temperate wind, we blessed be of God, 
 With tempest we find we are beat with his rod. 
 All power, we know, to remain in his hand, 
 However wind blow, by sea or by land. 
 
 Of the Months of the Year. 
 
 A kindly good Janavier freezeth pot by the fire. 
 February fill the dike with what thou dost like. 
 March dust to be sold, is worth ransom of gold. 
 Sweet April showers do spring May flowers. 
 Cold May and windy, barn filleth fendy. 
 Calm weather in June, barn filleth soon. 
 No tempest, good July, lest corn look ruly. 
 Dry August and warm, doth harvest'no harm. 
 September blow soft, till fruit be in loft. 
 October good blast, to blow the hog's mast. 
 November take flail, let ships no more sail. 
 O dirty December, for Christmas remember. 
 
 Brewing.* 
 Well brewed, worth cost ; ill used, half lost. 
 
 * In the time when Tusser wrote, every respectable farmer was in the 
 habit of brewing his own ale. I have somewhere heard an account of the 
 various qualities produced from one brewing:— viz. 
 "Good ale, 
 Very good ale. 
 May go down. 
 Must go down. 
 Scour-gut, and 
 Thin."
 
 USEFUL EXTRACTS. 163 
 
 Baking. 
 New bread is a drivell ; much crust is as evil. 
 
 Cookery. 
 Good cookery craveth ; good turnspit saveth. 
 
 Dairy. 
 Good dairy doth pleasure; ill dairy spends treasure. 
 
 Scouring. 
 No scouring for pride : spare kettle whole side. 
 
 Washing, 
 Take heed when you wash, else run in the lash. 
 
 Malting. 
 
 Ill malting is theft ; wood-dried hath a weft. 
 Take heed to the kell, sing out as a bell. 
 Best dried, best speeds ; ill kept, bowd breeds. 
 Malt being well speered, the more it will cast. 
 Malt being well dried, the longer will last. 
 
 A descriptioft of Woman's Age^ hy six times Fourteen 
 
 Years Apprenticeship. 
 14. Two first seven years for a rod they do whine; 
 
 This variety has been equalled by the Gudewife of Lochrin, Kinross-shire, 
 who made a " browst o' a peck o' maut," from which she extracted — 
 Twenty pints o' strong ale. 
 Twenty pints o' sma', 
 Twenty pints o' hinkie-pinkie, 
 Twenty pints o' ploughman's drinkie, 
 Twenty pints o' splutter-splatter. 
 And twenty pints was waur than water. — Ed. 
 
 {_Hfnderson,'\
 
 1 64 SCOTTISH PR VERBS. 
 
 28. Two next, as a pearl in the world they do shine ; 
 42. Two next, trim beauty beginneth to swerve ; 
 
 6. Two next, for matrons or drudges they serve ; 
 Two next, doth come a staff for a stay j 
 
 S<^. Two next, a bier to fetch them av/ay. 
 
 A Lesson, 
 
 Then purchase some pelf, 
 By forty and three ; 
 
 Or buckle thyself, 
 A drudge for to be. 
 
 Maris Age divided hy Apprenticeships, from his birth to 
 his grave, 
 
 7. The first seven years, bring up as a child. 
 14. The next, to learning, for waxing too wild. 
 21. The next, keep under Sir Hobbard de Hoy; 
 28. The next, a man, no longer a boy. 
 35. The next, let Lusty lay wisely to wItc ; 
 42. The next, lay now, or else never to thrive. 
 49. The next make sure for term of thy life. 
 56. The next, save somewhat for children and wife. 
 63. The next, be stayed, give over thy lust ; 
 72. The next, think hourly, whither thou must. 
 77. The next, get chair and crutches to stay; 
 34. The next, to heaven, God send us the way ! 
 
 Who loseth their youth shall rue it in age ; 
 
 "Who hateth the truth in sorrow shall rage.
 
 USEFUL EXTRACTS. 165 
 
 Another division 0/ the Age and Nature 0/ Man. 
 
 The Ape, the Lion, the Fox, the Ass, 
 Thus sets forth man as in a glass. 
 
 Ape. Like apes, we be toying till twenty and one ; 
 
 Lion. Then hasty as lions, till forty be gone : 
 
 Fox. Then wiley, as foxes, till threescore and three ; — 
 
 Ass. Then, after, for asses accounted we be. 
 
 Who plays with his better this lesson must know, 
 What humbleness fox to the lion doth owe ; 
 For ape with his toying, and rudeness of ass. 
 Brings (out of good hour) displeasure to pass.
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 A\ All. 
 
 Aiee. To let alee. To let alone, not to meddle. 
 
 Ablins. Perhaps. 
 
 A'body. Every one. 
 
 Abooji. Above. 
 
 Addle. Foul putrid water. 
 
 Adreich. At a distance. 
 
 Ae. One. 
 
 Aff. Off. 
 
 Afore. Before. 
 
 AfU A/ten. Often. 
 
 Agee. To one side. 
 
 Ahind. Ahint. Behind. 
 
 Aik. The oak. 
 
 Ain. Own. 
 
 Ains. Once. 
 
 Air. Early. 
 
 Airts. Airths. Quarters of the heavens, points of the compass. 
 
 Aiths. Oaths. 
 
 Aits. Oats. 
 
 Aiver. A cart-horse. 
 
 Alane. Alone.
 
 i68 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Amaist. Almost. 
 
 Amang. Among. 
 
 Ambry. A press for provisions in daily use. 
 
 Ance. Once. 
 
 Ane. One. 
 
 Aneth. Beneath. 
 
 AneiigJi. Enough. 
 
 Anither. Another. 
 
 Aside. Beside. 
 
 Audit. Possessed. 
 
 Alights. Owns. 
 
 Auld. Old. 
 
 Auld-farren. Sagacious. 
 
 Ava. At all. 
 
 Aw a. Away. 
 
 Awms. Alms. 
 
 Ax. Ask. 
 
 Ayont. Beyond. 
 
 Ba. A ball. 
 
 Back-sprent. Back-bone. — Sprent. Spring. 
 
 Baillerie. The magistracy. 
 
 Bairn. A child. 
 
 Baith. Both. 
 
 Bald. Bold. 
 
 Band. A ribbon, a fillet. 
 
 Bane. Bone. 
 
 Banning. Irreverent exclamation, often used as distinguished 
 
 from cursing. 
 Bannock. Bread baked from dough rather wet, and toasted on 
 
 a girdle.
 
 GLOSSARY. 169 
 
 Barefit. Barefooted. 
 
 BaticJde. To put out of shape : an old shoe. 
 
 Batild. Bold. 
 
 Baw. A ball. 
 
 Bawh:e. A halfpenny. 
 
 Bazuks. A strip of land left unploughed, about three feet broad. 
 
 Baivty. A dog. 
 
 Baxter. A baker. 
 
 Bear. Beere. Barley. 
 
 Bearlaiid. Land appropriated for barley crop, 
 
 BecJi. To curtsy. 
 
 Beetle. A mallet used for beating clothes. 
 
 Behin. Behind. 
 
 Beild. Bield. Shelter, refuge. 
 
 Bein. Wealthy, comfortably provided, &c. 
 
 Belyve. Immediately, quickly. 
 
 Belt. To gird. 
 
 Beltain. Beltane. The first day of May, O. S. 
 
 Ben. Towards the inner : the inner room of a house.— -5z^/ and 
 
 hen. A house containing two apartments. 
 Bent. A coarse kind of grass growing on hilly ground. 
 Bicker. A wooden dish for containing liquor. 
 Bide. To wait for. 
 Bide. To endure, 
 Bield. Shelter, refuge. 
 Bien. See Bein. 
 
 Big. Bigg. Byg. To build. — Biggin. Building. 
 Binh. A bench, a seat. 
 Birk. Birch tree. 
 
 Birse. Birs. Birses. The bristles of a sow. 
 Birsle. To burn slightly.
 
 I70 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Bit. A vulgar term used for food. — Bit and brat. Meat and 
 
 clothing. 
 Blad. A blow given on the cheek. — Bladded. Slapped. 
 Blait. Blate. Bashful. 
 Blaw. To blow. 
 Blether. To talk nonsensically. 
 Blin\ Blind. 
 Blink. A beam, a ray, a glance with the eye, particularly 
 
 expressive of regard. 
 Blirt. To shed tears. — "^ hlirt of greeting.'''' A violent burst 
 
 of tears, with crying. 
 Blnid. Blood. 
 
 Bode. Expect, wish for. A bid, an offer. 
 Bodle. Boddle. A copper coin of the value of two pennies 
 
 Scots, or the third part of an English penny. 
 Bogle. A spectre, a hobgoblin. 
 Bonnie. Bonny. Pretty, handsome, good looking. 
 Bonoch. A binding to tie a cow's hind legs when she is being 
 
 milked. 
 Boot. Help, advantage ; often used as something more than the 
 
 price or bargain. 
 Borrowing days. The three last days of March, O.S. 
 Bougars. Cross-spars, forming part of the roof of a cottage, 
 
 instead of laths, on which wattlings or twigs are placed, and, 
 
 above these, divots, and then the straw or thatch. 
 Bouk. Buik. The trunk of the body. 
 Bountith. Something given as a reward for service. 
 Bounty. Goodness, worth. 
 Bourd. To jest. 
 Boutgate. A circuitous road. 
 Bowkit. Large, bulky.
 
 GLOSSARY. 171 
 
 Boivne. To make ready, to prepare. 
 
 Bowrocks. An inclosure, applied to the little houses children 
 
 build with sand in play. 
 Bowstock. A cabbage. 
 Braid. Broad. 
 Brak. To break. 
 Brander. A gridiron. 
 Brang. Brought. 
 
 Brat. A small apron : clothing in general. 
 Brawly. Very well. 
 
 Breard. The first appearance of grain above ground. 
 Brede. Breid. To resemble, 
 Bree. Broo. Juice, sauce, soup. 
 Breeks. Breeches. 
 Brig. Bridge. 
 Brither. Brother. 
 Brochan. Oatmeal boiled into a consistence somewhat thicker 
 
 than gruel. 
 Broo. See Bree. 
 
 Broose. Brtise. A race at a country wedding. 
 Brose. A kind of pottage made by pouring boiling water on 
 
 oatmeal, and stirring it while the water is poured. 
 Brow. Opinion. — Nae brow. No favourable opinion. 
 Browst. As much malt liquor as is brewed at a time. 
 Bruckle. Brittle. 
 Briikie. Brawl, fray, or quarrel. 
 Bubbly. Snotty. 
 Buirde. Burd. Table. 
 Burn. h. streamlet, a brook. 
 Busk. Dress. — Buskit. Dressed. 
 Bui. Without.
 
 1 72 GLOSSARY. 
 
 But. The outer apartment of a house of two rooms, 
 Bygane. Bygone. 
 
 Ca\ To drive. 
 
 Ca'd. Called. 
 
 Cahback. Kehhich. A cheese. 
 
 Cadger. A gipsy pedlar. 
 
 Caff. Chaff. 
 
 Caller. Cool, fresh. 
 
 Candlemas Day. The 2nd of February. 
 
 Cankert. Cankerwit. Cross, ill conditioned. 
 
 Canna. Cannot. 
 
 Canny. Cautious, prudent. 
 
 Canty. Lively, cheerful. 
 
 Carl Carle. A man, as distinguished from a boy. 
 
 Carlin. An old woman. 
 
 Castock. The heart of the stalk of colewort or cabbage. 
 
 Cauld. Cold. 
 
 Cansey. The street. 
 
 Cavels. Lots. 
 
 Cavie. A hen-coop. 
 
 Cawk. Chalk. 
 
 Chafts. Chops. 
 
 CJiaft-blade. Under jaw-bone. 
 
 Chancy. Fortunate, happy. 
 
 Chap. A fellow. 
 
 Chap. To strike. 
 
 Chapman. A pedlar, a hawker. 
 
 Che swell. A cheese vat. 
 
 Chiel. Chield. A servant, a fellow, a stripling. 
 
 Chimley. A grate, a chimney.
 
 GLOSSARY, 173 
 
 CJmche-stane. A small white pebble. 
 
 Claes. Clothes. 
 
 Claith. Cloth. 
 
 Clarty. Dirty, nasty. 
 
 Clash. To talk idly ; tittle-tattle. 
 
 Clatter. To prattle, to act as a tell-tale, 
 
 Claver. To talk idly or foolishly. — Claveriiig. Gossipping. 
 
 Claw. To scratch. 
 
 dead. To clothe. 
 
 Cleck. To hatch. 
 
 Clergy. Erudition. 
 
 Clips. Hooks for lifting pots off the fire. 
 
 Clock. Clok. To cluck, to call chickens together. 
 
 Clout. A cuff, a blow, a rag. 
 
 Clung. Empty, applied to the stomach. 
 
 Cock-laird. A landholder who farms his estate. 
 
 Cod. Pillow. 
 
 Coft. Bought. 
 
 Cog. A hollow wooden vessel for holding milk, broth, &c. 
 
 Common. To be in one''s common. To be obliged to one. 
 
 Coosten. Cast. 
 
 Corbie. Corby. A raven. 
 
 Corncraik. The landrail. 
 
 Cosie. Cozie. Warm, comfortable, well sheltered. 
 
 Cottar. Cotter. One who inhabits a cottage, one of the 
 
 servants who live in the cottages belonging to a farm. 
 Coucher. A coward. — Couching. Cowardly. 
 Couper. A dealer, 
 Coupet. Overturned. 
 Cotiple. A rafter. 
 Cout. Cowte. A ycung horse.
 
 174 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Cow. To poll the head, to clip short. 
 
 Cow-qjiake. A disease in cattle, caused from dulness of the 
 
 •weather. 
 Cowp. To exchange, to barter, to overturn. 
 Crack. To talk freely, familiarly. 
 Crackct. Cracked. 
 Crap. The craw of a fowl, used ludicrously for the stomach of 
 
 a man. 
 Craw. To crow ; a crow. 
 
 Creil. Creel. An ozier basket : panniers are also called creels. 
 Crcish. Crecsh. Grease ; to grease. 
 Creeshy. Greasy. 
 Crookit. Crooked. 
 Crouse. Brisk, lively ; boldly. 
 Crowdie. Meal and water, or milk and water, stirred together 
 
 in a cold state. 
 Cruimnock. A short staff with a crooked head. 
 Ciilye. Culyie. To coax, to soothe, to curry favour, to draw 
 
 forth. 
 Cummer. Kimmer. A young girl, a gossip, 
 Cuiiyie. Cnnzie. Coin, silver, 
 
 Curcuddoch. A dance among children ; cordial, kind. 
 Ciittie. A short spoon. 
 
 Daffin. Folly in general. 
 
 Daft. Giddy, foolish, gay, wanton, &c. 
 
 Daigh. Dough. 
 
 Dainty* Pleasant, worthy. 
 
 Dang. Driven, 
 
 Darg. A day's work. 
 
 Datid. A large piece.
 
 GLOSSARY. 175 
 
 Daurna. Dare not. 
 
 Daw. A drab. 
 
 Dawly. Slow, slovenly. 
 
 Daut. Dawt. To fondle, to caress. 
 
 Deave. To deafen, 
 
 Deil. Devil. 
 
 Denk. Dink. Trim, neat. 
 
 Dicht. Prepared. 
 
 Didna. Did not. 
 
 Dight. Wipe. 
 
 Z>//^(?. Z>j//^^. A wall ; a ditch. 
 
 Din. Noise. 
 
 Dinging. Beating. 
 
 Dinna. Do not. 
 
 Dirk. Diirk. A dagger. 
 
 Dispone. To dispose. 
 
 Z>/V. Close up. 
 
 Dock. To cut short. 
 
 Dockin. A weed, dock. 
 
 Dolour. Grief. 
 
 Dominie. A schoolmaster, a pedagogue, a contemptuous name 
 
 for a minister. 
 Donnart. In a state of stupor, stupid. 
 Dool Sorrow, grief. 
 Dorty. Pettish, saucy. 
 Douce. Sedate, sober. 
 Dought. Did. 
 
 Dotip. Do-wp. The breech, the bottom, or extremity of anything. 
 Dour. Doure. Obstinate, stern, inflexible, bold. 
 Dow. To be able ; to wither ; a pigeon. 
 Dowpa. Cannot.
 
 176 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Draff. Grain ; the refuse of malt after brewing, &c. 
 
 Drap. To drop ; a drop. 
 
 D7-ec. To endure. 
 
 Drouth. Drought. 
 
 Dub. A small pool of rain water ; a gutter. 
 
 Dud. Diiddy. A rag ; ragged. 
 
 Duddroun. Slovenly. 
 
 Dtimhie. Dwnmie. One who is dumb; also applied to a 
 
 written document. 
 Dunt. A large piece. 
 Dtcnt. A stroke, producing a hollow sound. 
 
 Ear. Early. 
 
 Earn. To coagulate. 
 
 Ebb. Shallow. 
 
 Ee. The eye. 
 
 Eel. A nine-ce'd eel. A lamprey. 
 
 Eel-backit. Having a black line on the back ; applied to dun 
 
 horses. 
 Een. Eyes. 
 
 Eerie. Eiry. Affected with fear. 
 Eideiit. Diligent. 
 Eik. Each ; an addition. 
 Eild. Eld. To wax old ; old age. 
 Eith. Easy. 
 EitJily. Easily. 
 Elbock. Elhuck. Elbow. 
 Eldin. Elding. Fuel of any kind. 
 Elson. Elsyn. An awl. 
 Erne. Uncle. 
 Enetigh. Enough,
 
 GLOSSARY. 177 
 
 Er. Before. 
 
 Erd. Yerd. Yerth. Earth. 
 
 Ettle. Ettil. To aim, to attempt ; a mark. 
 
 Fd\ To id\\.—Fa' tae. Fall to, begin. 
 
 Fae. Foe. 
 
 Fail-dyke. A wall built of sods. 
 
 Fain. Fond, glad. 
 
 Fair fa'. Good luck to. 
 
 Fall-by. To be lost. 
 
 Fallow 
 
 '. A fellow ; to follow. 
 
 
 Fand. 
 
 Found. 
 
 
 Farer. 
 
 Farther. 
 
 
 Fash. 
 
 Fasch. Trouble. — Fashions. 
 
 Troublesome. 
 
 Faiich. 
 
 Faiigh. To fallow ground. 
 
 
 Faiise. 
 
 False. 
 
 
 Fanie. 
 
 Fault. 
 
 
 Faw. 
 
 To fall. 
 
 
 Fawte. 
 
 Fa-wt. Want. 
 
 
 Fay. On the verge of death. 
 
 Fazart. Fazard. Coward ; cowardly. 
 
 Fccht. Fight. 
 
 Feck. A term denoting both space, quantity, and number. — Tlic 
 
 feck o' them. The most part of them. 
 Feckless. Weak. 
 
 Fee. Fie. To hire ; hire ; wages. 
 Feech. Feigh. Interjection, Fy. 
 Feerie. Fiery. Clever, nimble, active. 
 Fell. Denoting degree, — diS fell-wee I, very weel. 
 Fell To kill. 
 Fell Hot, biting. — Fell cheese. 
 
 N
 
 178 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Fen. Fend. To shift. 
 
 Ferlie. A wonder. 
 
 Fern-year. The preceding year. 
 
 Fettle. Fettil. Energy, power. 
 
 Fidging. Restless, fidgety. 
 
 Fiery. See Feerie. 
 
 File. To defile. 
 
 Filly. Fillock. A young mare. 
 
 Findy. Full, substantial. 
 
 Firlot. The fourth-part of a boll of corn. 
 
 Fit^ Foot. 
 
 Flae. A flea. 
 
 Fleckker. Flicker. To flutter. 
 
 Flee. A fly ; to fly. 
 
 Fleeching. Flattering. 
 
 Fleich. Fleitch. To wheedle ; flattery. 
 
 Fley. To frighten. 
 
 Fley. Flay, skin. 
 
 Flie. To fly. 
 Fling. To kick. 
 
 Flit. Flyt. To remove, to transport, to change. — Most common 
 as denoting removing residence. 
 
 Fhcet. A smart blow. 
 
 Flunkie. A livery servant. 
 
 Flyte. To scold. 
 
 Fog. Fogue. Moss. 
 
 Foolzie. Gold leaf. 
 
 Forespeaker. An advocate. 
 
 Father. Fodder. 
 
 Fou. Fu. Full, tipsy. 
 
 Fouk. Folk, people.
 
 GLOSSARY. 179 
 
 Foul. Wet, rainy. 
 
 Foulzie. Dung. 
 
 Fouth. Plenty. 
 
 Fra. Frae. From. 
 
 Fraik. To flatter. — Fracken. Flattery. 
 
 Freit. Frect. A superstitious notion with respect to good or 
 
 bad omens. 
 Frcinyt. Framet. Strange, foreign, acting like a stranger. 
 Fuff. To puff. 
 
 Ficrdersome. Pushing, industrious. 
 Furtiich (Gaelic Faoilteach). The borrowing days. 
 Ftisionkss. Without strength or sap, unsubstantial. 
 Fyke. To do in a piddling sort of way. 
 Fyle. To defile. 
 
 Gab. Mouth. 
 
 Gab. Prating; to prate. — Gab-slick. A spoon. 
 
 Gae. To go. 
 
 Gaid. Went. 
 
 Gaislin. A young goose. 
 
 Gaist. The soul, a ghost. 
 
 Gait. A goat. 
 
 Gang. To go. 
 
 Gang. A walk for cattle. 
 
 Gaj: Ger. To cause. 
 
 Gartane. A garter. 
 
 Gate. Gait. A way, a road. 
 
 Gaukie. Gawky. A foolish person. 
 
 Gaun. Going. 
 
 Gaunt. Gint. A yawn- 
 
 Gaw. To gall ; gall.
 
 [8o GLOSSARY. 
 
 Gay. jNIoderately. 
 
 Gayen. Tolerably. 
 
 Gaylie. Middling, so so. 
 
 Gear. Geir. Money, goods, booty, warlike accoutrements. 
 
 Gee. To tak the gee. To become pettish. 
 
 Gee-lugged. One-eared. 
 
 Geily. Pretty well. 
 
 Ghaist. Ghost. 
 
 Gie. To give. — Gien. Given. 
 
 Giff-gaj[f. Mutual giving. 
 
 Gileynoitr. A deceiver. 
 
 Gm. If. 
 
 Gird. Gyrd. Girr. A hoop. 
 
 Girdle. A circular plate of iron for toasting cakes over the fire- 
 
 Girn. To girn. To grin, to snarl. 
 
 Girnall. Girnell A large chest for holding meal. 
 
 Glamour. The supposed influence of a charm on the eye, causing 
 
 it to see objects differently from what they really are. 
 Glar. Glaiir. ]Mud, mire. 
 Gled. The kite. 
 
 Gleg. Keen, quick of perception. 
 Gleid. A burning coal ; a spark of fire. 
 Glent. Glint. To glance ; to get a glance at. 
 Gloamin. Gloming. Twilight. 
 Gloom. To frown ; a frown. 
 Glowr. Glour. To stare. 
 Gley. Glye. To squint. 
 Glowering. Staring. 
 Glum. Gloomy. 
 
 Gob. The mouth. Gob-slake. A blow on the mouth. 
 Gaivd. Gaud. Gold.
 
 GLOSSARY. i8i 
 
 Gomerell. A stupid fellow. 
 
 Gowan. The daisy. 
 
 Gowk. Golk. The cuckoo ; a fool. 
 
 Gowdspink. The goldfinch. 
 
 Gowpen. Goiipin. Both hands held together in form of a round 
 
 vessel. 
 Graiiie. Grane. To groan. 
 Graip. A dung fork. 
 Graip. To grope. 
 Graith. Apparatus of whatever kind. — Horse graith. Horse 
 
 harness. 
 Gramashes. Gaiters. 
 Grat. Cried. 
 Gratefu. Grateful. 
 Gres. To agree. 
 Green. Grein. To long for. 
 
 Greet. Greit. Greeting. To cry ; the act of crying. 
 Grieve. To oversee ; an overseer. 
 Gryce. A pig. 
 Groat. A fourpenny piece. 
 Groats. Oats with the husk taken off. 
 Groset. Groser. Grosert. A gooseberry. 
 Grumly. Muddy. 
 Grianph. To grunt ; a grunt. 
 Griindstane. Grindstone. 
 Gude. Good. 
 Guddame. Grandmother. 
 Gudemither. A mother-in-law ; a stepmother. 
 Gtiidis. Goods, wealth. 
 Gully. A large knife. 
 Gttniple-faced. Chop-fallen.
 
 iS2 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Gumption. Understanding. 
 
 Gutcher. A grandfather. 
 
 Gutters. Mire. Dirt. 
 
 Gyte. To gang gyte. To act extravagantly. 
 
 IIa\ Hall. 
 
 Hater. A fog. 
 
 Hae. To have. 
 
 Hafit. Haffet. The side of the head. 
 
 Haggis. A pudding, made in a sheep's stomach, with oatmeal, 
 suet, the heart, liver, and lungs of the sheep, minced down and 
 seasoned with salt, pepper, and onions, and boiled for use. 
 
 Hail. Whole ; entirely. 
 
 Hairst. Harvest. 
 
 Hawse. The throat, the neck. 
 
 Hamald. Haimald. Domestic, homely, common. 
 
 Hame. Home. 
 
 Handsel. The first money received. 
 
 Handsel- Monday. The first Monday of the year, O. S. 
 
 Hain. Hane. To spare, not to expend. 
 
 Hantel. A considerable number, 
 
 Harboory. Herhery. A dwelling-place ; lodging ; a military 
 
 station. 
 Harigald, The pluck of an animal. 
 Harle. To trail ; to drag with force ; to rake. 
 Haj'nes. Hams. The brains. — Harnpan. The skuH. 
 Hand. Hold, keep. 
 Haugh. Hauch. Low flat ground, on the banks of a river that 
 
 is sometimes overflowed. 
 Haver. To talk foolishly. Haveril. — One who talks habitually 
 in a foolish manner.
 
 GLOSSARY. 183 
 
 Hawgh. To spit ; to force up phlegm. 
 
 Hech. Hegh. To pant ; to breathe hard. 
 
 Hecht. To promise ; to offer ; a promise. 
 
 Heckle. To dress flax ; a severe examination. — A heckling comb 
 A comb for dressing flax. 
 
 Herschip. Plundering. 
 
 Hesp. A hank of yarn. 
 
 HeU Hot. 
 
 Hetigh. Hetich. The shaft of a coal-pit; a steep hill. 
 
 Hiinsel. Himself. 
 
 Hinder. Hinder-end. Last ; terminating ; extremity. 
 
 Hint. Behind. 
 
 Hire. To let ; reward. 
 
 Hirple. To move in a halting manner. 
 
 Hirsell. A multitude ; a flock ; to move, resting on the hams. 
 
 Hodden-grey. Coarse cloth worn by the peasantry, the natural 
 colour of the wool. 
 
 Hogmanay. Hogmenay. The last day of the year. 
 
 Holland. The holly. 
 
 Hommel corn. Grain that has no beard. 
 
 Houff. A haunt. 
 
 Houk. Hoivk. To dig. 
 
 Host. To cough. 
 
 How. Hoe. A hood or coif; a hoe. 
 
 Hotvdy. A midwife. 
 
 Howe. Hollow. 
 
 Hudderin, Huderen. Slovenly and flabby in person (pro- 
 nounced hntherin). 
 
 Hunker. To squat down. 
 
 Hurle-barrow. A wheel-barrow.
 
 1 84 GLOSSARY. 
 
 r. In. 
 
 Ilka. Ilk. Every, each. 
 ///. Hard, difficult. 
 Ill-deedie. Mischievous. 
 Ill-far'd. Bad-looking. 
 Ill-willie. Ill-natured. 
 Ingle. Ingil. Fire. 
 Infill. In. 
 Ithers. Others. 
 ItseV. Itself. 
 
 Jawp. Janp. A dash of water ; a spot of mud or dirty water ; 
 
 to be bespattered with mud. 
 jee. To move ; to move to one side. 
 yceg. To creak. 
 yiffie. A moment. 
 Jimp. Neat, slender. 
 jfo. Joe. A sweetheart. 
 
 yog- trot. A slow motion on horseback ; one's peculiar habit. 
 youk. yozuk. To bend ; to avoid a blow ; to shift. 
 Jonndie. yundie. To jog with the elbow ; a push. 
 yugs. yougs. A kind of pillory, the criminal being fastened to 
 
 the wall or post by an iron collar. 
 
 Kae. Kay. A jackdaw. 
 
 Kail. Broth made of greens ; colewort. 
 
 Kail-yard. Kitchen-garden. 
 
 Kame. Kaim. To comb ; honey-comb ; a comb. 
 
 Kamester. A wool- comber. 
 
 Kaiii. Kain-fowls. Rent or duty paid to landlords in kind. 
 
 Kavel. Lot.
 
 GLOSSARY. 185 
 
 Kebbiick. Cabback. A cheese. 
 
 Keek. Keik. To look with a prying eye ; to peep. 
 
 Kemper. One who strives ; generally applied to reapers striving 
 in the harvest field. 
 
 Ken. To know ; to be acquainted. 
 
 Kensna. Knows not. 
 
 Kep. Kepp. To intercept. 
 
 Kiesart. A cheese-vat. 
 
 Kiinmer. A female gossip ; a married woman ; a pot com- 
 panion. 
 
 Kiitk. A violent fit of coughing.— Kmk-/iosf. Hooping-cough. 
 
 Kipper. To cure fish by means of salt and pepper. 
 
 Kirk. The church. 
 
 Kirn. To churn ; a churn. 
 
 Kist. Kyst. A chest. 
 
 Kitchen. Kitching. Solids as opposed to liquids; anything 
 eaten with bread. 
 
 Kith. Kith or kin. Acquaintance or relations. 
 
 Kittle. To litter ; to tickle ; itchy. 
 
 Knock. A clock. 
 
 Knowe. A little hill. 
 
 Kyte. The belly. 
 
 Kythe. To show ; to appear ; to be manifest. 
 
 Kye. Cows. 
 
 Lack. To depreciate. 
 
 Lad. A young man-servant. 
 
 Laddie. A boy. 
 
 Lade. A load. — Lade-saddle. A saddle for laying burdens on. — 
 
 Mill-lade. The canal that carries water to a mill. 
 Lagen-gird. A hoop securing the bottom of a wooden vessel.
 
 1 86 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Laid'saddill. A saddle for laying burdens on. 
 
 Laigh. Low ; not tall. 
 
 Laird. K person of superior rank ; the proprietor of a property. 
 
 — Lairdship. A small landed estate. 
 Laith. Unwilling ; also loathsome. 
 Laithron. A sloven. 
 Lammas. August 1st, but 13th, old style. 
 Lammer. Amber. — Lamme7--beads. Amber-beads. 
 Lane. Alone ; lone. 
 Lang. Long; to long. 
 Langell. To entangle ; the rope by which the fore and hinder 
 
 feet of a cow are fastened together. 
 Langer. Weariness. 
 Langsome. Slow ; tedious. 
 Langsyne. Long since. 
 LaricJi. Laverock. A lark. 
 Lass. A sweetheart. 
 Lave. Laive. The remainder. 
 La-ivin. Lawing. A tavern bill. 
 Lea. Unploughed ; a meadow. 
 Leal. Loyal ; faithful ; honest. 
 Lear. Lare. To teach ; to learn. 
 Lear. Learning. 
 Lee. Shelter ; warm. 
 Leese-me. Leif-is-mc. Dear is to me ; expressive of strong 
 
 affection. 
 Leif. Beloved. — As leif. As soon. 
 Len. To lend. 
 
 Let on. To seem to observe anything ; to pretend. 
 Leugh. LeticJi. Laughed. 
 Licket. Licked.
 
 GLOSSARY. 187 
 
 Lift. The atmosphere. To lift. To carry off by theft. 
 
 Lilt. To sing cheerfully ; a cheerful air. 
 
 Lingel. Liiigle. A shoemaker's thread. 
 
 Lippcn. Lippiii. To trust ; depend on for. 
 
 Lit. Litt. Dye ; to dye ; to tinge. 
 
 LitJier. Lazy ; sleepy. 
 
 Loan. Lone. Loaning. An opening between fields of corn for 
 driving cattle homewards, or milking cows. 
 
 Loan Soup. Milk fresh from the cow. 
 
 Loch. A lake ; an arm of the sea. 
 
 Loe. Love. 
 
 Logic. An empty space before the fire-place in a kiln for draw- 
 ing air. 
 
 Loof. Palm of the hand. 
 
 Loun. Loon. Lown. A worthless person, male or female. 
 
 Lonp. To leap ; a leap or spring. 
 
 Lout. Bow down. 
 
 Lowe. A flame. 
 
 Luckic. Lucky. A designation given to an elderly woman. 
 
 Lticly-daddie. Grandfather. 
 
 Lufe. Loof. Lciif The palm of the hand. 
 
 Lug. The ear, 
 
 Lum. Lunib. A chimney. 
 
 Ltcrdane. Lurdon. A worthless, slothful, person. 
 
 Litve. Love. 
 
 LyJce-waik. The watching of a dead body. 
 
 Mae. More in number. 
 
 Maiden. An instrument for beheading, similar to the guillotine. 
 
 Mailin. A farm. 
 
 Main. Moan : to bemoan.
 
 i88 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Mair. More. 
 
 Maist. Most. 
 
 Mak. Make. 
 
 Malison. A curse. 
 
 Mammic. A childish term for mother. 
 
 Manse. The parsonage house. 
 
 Marrow. A companion ; to equal. 
 
 Marroivless. Without a match. 
 
 Maukin. A hare. 
 
 Maun. Must. 
 
 Mawina. Must not. 
 
 Maut. Malt. 
 
 Matu. To mow. 
 
 Mease. Mcsc. Meis. To mitigate ; to become calm. 
 
 Meinc. Esteem. 
 
 Mell. A maul ; to mix. 
 
 Melteth. Meltith. A meal. 
 
 Mends. Atonement ; over and above. 
 
 Mense. Menck. Dignity; honour. 
 
 Menseful. Manly. 
 
 Merk. An ancient silver coin, value thirteen shillings and four- 
 pence, Scots; equal to Is. i^d. Sterling. 
 
 Merle. The blackbird. 
 
 Messan. Messui. A small dog. 
 
 Met. Mett. Measure. 
 
 Midden. A dunghill. — Midden-hole. A dung-stead. 
 
 Milsie. Milsey. A milk-strainer. 
 
 Mini. Prim ; proudish ; affecting great moderation in eating 
 or drinking. 
 
 Mind. To remember ; to recollect. — Myndles. Forgetful. 
 
 Minnie. JMinny. Mother ; a fondling term.
 
 GLOSSARY. 189 
 
 Mmt. To aim ; to take aim. 
 
 Mirk. Merk. Mark. Dark; darkness. 
 
 Misca\ Miscall. To call names. 
 
 Misken. Not to know. 
 
 Misleard. Misleird. Unmannerly. 
 
 Mither. Mother. 
 
 Mittens. Woollen gloves. 
 
 Mizzled. Having different colours. 
 
 Modywart. Motcdiewort. A mole. 
 
 Mojiy. Many. 
 
 Mool. Mule. To crumble. 
 
 Mools. Miildes. Pulverised earth, in general ; the earth of the 
 grave ; the dust of the dead. 
 
 Moop. To impair, to nibble away. 
 
 Morn. Morne. Morrow. 
 
 Mother-naked. Stark-naked. 
 
 Mou. Mouth. — MotCd. Mouthed. 
 
 Moup. Moop. To nibble ; to mump. 
 
 Motiter. To take multure for grinding corn. 
 
 Mow. The mouth. — Mo-iv. Moue. A heap. 
 
 Moyen. Interest; temporal substance. — To Moyen. To accom- 
 plish by the use of means. 
 
 Muck. To carry out dung; dung. 
 
 Muckle. Much, great. 
 
 Mwnp. To hint ; to aim at. 
 
 Munsie. A spoon without a handle. 
 
 Mure. Mtiir. A heath; a flat covered with heath. 
 
 Mysel MyselL Myself. 
 
 Na. Nae. Ne. No; not.
 
 190 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Na. Nae. Neither. 
 
 Naethiiig. Nothing. 
 
 N'aig. A riding horse. 
 
 A'ail. Affat the nail. Destitute of any regard to propriety of 
 
 conduct. 
 N'ane. None. 
 
 Neb. The nose, ludicrously used; the beak of a fool. 
 Neiffer. Niffer. Nieffer. To barter ; properly, to exchange 
 
 what is held in one fist, for what is held in another, 
 Neisi. Ablest. Neyst. Next ; nighest. 
 Neive. A'eif. The fist. 
 NeiveftC. A handful. 
 
 Nicher. A^eigher. To neigh ; to laugh in a ridiculous manner. 
 Niffer. To exchange. 
 No. Not. 
 
 Nolt. Nowt. Black cattle. 
 Nor. Than. 
 Noy. To annoy. 
 
 0\ Of. 
 
 Oe. 0. Oyc. A grandson. 
 
 Overcome. The overplus. 
 
 Olite. Olight. Nimble ; active. 
 
 Olye. Ulye. Oil. 
 
 Ony. Any. 
 
 Oo. Wool. — A' ae 00. All to the same purpose. 
 
 Or. Before; ere. 
 
 Or. Lest. 
 
 Ort. To throw aside provender. 
 
 Orts. Rejected provender. 
 
 Oner. Upper; over.
 
 GLOSSARY. 191 
 
 Oulie-pig. Oil vessel. 
 
 Oiire. Owre. Over ; beyond. ^ 
 
 Ourconie. Overplus. 
 
 Oiirgae. Oitrgang. To overrun ; to master. 
 
 Onsen. Owsen. Oxen. 
 
 Ower. Over. 
 
 Oxter. Armpit. 
 
 Oye. Grandson. 
 
 Parritch. Porridge. 
 
 Parian. Common sea crab. 
 
 Partrik. Pairtrick. A partridge. 
 
 Pat. A pot. 
 
 Pauky. Pawhy. Sly ; artful. 
 
 Paut. To paw ; a stroke with the forefoot. 
 
 Peasweep. Lapwing. 
 
 Peat-pat. The hole from which peat is dug. 
 
 Plach Plak. A copper coin formerly current, equal to the 
 
 third-part of an English penny. 
 Plaid. An outer loose weed of tartan, worn by Highlanders. 
 Plaint. To complain. 
 Ploom. A plum. 
 
 Pby. A harmless frolic. 
 
 Pock. A bag. 
 
 Pock-arrs. Marks left by the small-pox. 
 
 Poind. Poynd. To distrain. 
 
 Poortith. Poverty. 
 
 Porridge. Hasty-pudding. 
 
 Port. A catch, a lively tune. 
 
 Port-yowl. To sing port-yowl. To cry. 
 
 Pouch. Pocket.
 
 192 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Pow. The head ; a slow moving rivulet, in flat lands. 
 
 Prill. Preen. A pin made of wire. 
 
 Prce. To taste. % 
 
 Prent. To print ; print ; printed. 
 
 Prick. A wooden skewer securing the end of a gut containing 
 
 a pudding ; to fasten by a wooden skewer. 
 Propone. To propose. 
 Prin. Same as Preen. 
 Provost. The mayor of a royal burgh. 
 Pnddin. Pudding. 
 Piiddock. A frog. 
 P7nr. Poor. 
 Pund. Pound. 
 PtCpit. Pulpit. 
 
 Qnaicli. A small shallow drinking- cup with two ears. 
 
 Qiiat. To quit ; quit. 
 
 Qiiean. A young woman. 
 
 Qney. A cow of two years old ; the female calf. 
 
 Qiihen. When. 
 
 Qit.o\ Quoth; said. 
 
 Raggit. Ragged. 
 
 Raip. Rape. A rope. 
 
 Rash. A rush. 
 
 Ravelled. A ravelled hesp. A troublesome or intricate business. 
 
 Rax. To extend the limbs ; to stretch. 
 
 Reani. Reynie. To cream ; cream. 
 
 Reard. A noisy tongue. 
 
 Reave. Rob, steal. 
 
 Red. Rede. To counsel.
 
 GLOSSARY. 193 
 
 Red. Rede. Afraid. 
 
 Red. To disentangle. — Rcder. One who endeavours to settle a 
 
 dispute. 
 Redd. Clearance ; to put in order. 
 Redding-stroke. A stroke one often receives in endeavouring to 
 
 separate two fighting. 
 Red land. Ground turned by the plough. 
 Reek. Smoke. 
 
 Reik. To reach ; to dress out ; also to smoke. 
 Reinede. Remedy. 
 Rig. Rigg. Riggen. The back. 
 Riggin. The top of the roof. 
 Rin. To run. 
 
 Ripple. To separate the seed of flax from the stalks. 
 Rippliiig-kame. A flax comb. 
 Rizle. To rustle, to beat heartily. 
 Roose. To extol. 
 Roiith. Rowth. Plenty. 
 Row. To roll. 
 
 Rozc'te. The act of bellowing ; to bellow. 
 Royet. Royit. Wild ; romping ; given to sport. 
 Rwngiinshach. Coarse, rude, unkind. 
 Rtimple. Rumpill. The rump. 
 Rung. Any long piece of wood. 
 Rnnkle. To crease ; to crumple ; wrinkle. 
 Rtise. Praise. 
 Ruser. Boaster. 
 
 Sa\ Salve. 
 
 Sad. Grave ; heavy ; to become solid ; to make sad. 
 Saft. Soft ; pleasant ; to mollify. 
 O
 
 194 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Sain. To bless. 
 
 Sair. To serve. 
 
 Sair. Painful ; a sore ; a wound. 
 
 Sairly. Sorely. 
 
 Sang. Song. 
 
 Sary. Sairy. Sorrowful ; wretched ; poor. 
 
 Sark. A shirt. 
 
 Satich. Saiigh. The willow. 
 
 Saucht. Tranquillity ; peace ; ease ; reconciled, 
 
 Saul. The soul. 
 
 Saiit. Salt. — Sauted. Salted. 
 
 Saw. Sa-ive. A proverb ; a saying ; to sow. 
 
 Sax. Six. — Saxtie. Sixty. 
 
 ScamUer. One who seeks his meat among his friends. 
 
 Scant. Scarcity. 
 
 Scart. To scratch ; to scrape money together ; to scrape a dish 
 with a spoon. 
 
 Schachel. To shufHe in walking. 
 
 Schog. To jog; to move backwards and forwards. 
 
 Schoggle. To shake ; to dangle. 
 
 Sclate. Sklait. Slate. 
 
 Scon. A cake. 
 
 Seethe. To be nearly boiling. 
 
 Seindle. Seyndlll. Sindlc. Seldom ; rare. 
 
 Senon. A sinew. 
 
 Set. To lease ; to lay snares ; to become, as to dress. 
 
 Seuch. Sewch. A furrow ; to divide. 
 
 Seyle. Happiness. 
 
 Shae. Shoe. 
 
 Shaft. A handle ; the pit sunk for reaching coals. 
 
 Shairney. Befouled with dung.
 
 GLOSSARY. 195 
 
 Shaup. The husk. 
 
 Sheeted. Shelled. 
 
 Shent. Confounded ; ruined. 
 
 Shinty. A club stick used in playing the game. 
 
 Shog. Jog. 
 
 Shoot. Shovel. 
 
 Shoon. Shoes. 
 
 Shotidna. Should not. 
 
 Shouther. Shoulder. 
 
 Sih. Related by blood. 
 
 Sic. Such. 
 
 Siclike. Of the same kind ; in the same manner. 
 
 Sicker. Secure ; firm. 
 
 Side. Syde. Hanging low. 
 
 Sidelins. Side by side. 
 
 Sitter. Silver. 
 
 Simmer. Summer. 
 
 Siniien. Sinew. 
 
 Sing. To singe. 
 
 Singet. Singed. 
 
 Skail Shale. To disperse ; to dismiss ; to spill. 
 
 Skaith. Hurt ; damage ; injury supposed to proceed from 
 
 witchcraft. 
 StacJ:. Slow ; slow to make payment. 
 Slae. Sloe. 
 
 Stap. A breach in a wall or hedge. 
 Stiddery. Slippery; loose. 
 
 Slacken, To quench, in regard to fire ; to allay thirst. 
 Sma. Small. 
 Smiddy. A smith's shop. 
 Smit. To stain : to infect.
 
 195 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Smore. To smother with smoke ; to choke ; to suffocate. 
 
 Snapper. To stumble. 
 
 Snoit. Mucus from the nose. 
 
 Snood. Smide. A fillet with which the hair of a young woman's 
 
 head ^s bound up. 
 Soher. Sohyr. Poor ; mean ; in an ill state of health. 
 Sober. To compose ; to keep under. 
 Soden. Boiled. 
 Sodger. A soldier. 
 
 Sonsy. Having a pleasant look ; plump ; thriving. 
 Soom. Swim. 
 Soop. Soup. To sweep ; the quantity of spoon-meat taken into 
 
 the mouth at once. 
 Soot/u True. 
 Souple. Supple. 
 Soutar. Souter. A shoemaker. 
 Sotither^d. Sozvther'd. Soldered. 
 Sowens. Flummery ; a paste used by weavers for stiffening the 
 
 yarn in working. 
 Spale. Spail Spcal A chip ; a shaving of wood. 
 Speir. To ask. 
 Spill. Spyll. To destroy. 
 
 Spring. A quick and cheerful tune on a musical instrument. 
 Spurtill. Spirtle. A wooden or iron spattle for turning bread ; 
 a stick with which pottage or broth is stirred when 
 boiling. 
 Sta\ Stall. 
 Staig. A horse of one, two, or three years old, not yet broken, 
 
 nor employed in work. 
 Stamach* The stomach. 
 Stane. A stone.
 
 GLOSSARY. 197 
 
 Stang. To sting ; to thrill with acute pain ; a long pole. 
 
 Stang 0' the trump. The best member of a family. 
 Stay. Stey. Steep. 
 Steek. To shut. Sieekit. Shut. 
 Steek. Steik. Steke. To pierce with a sharp instrument; to 
 
 stitch ; to fasten ; a stitch. 
 Steik. To shut close. 
 Stick. To kill. 
 Stirk. A young bullock, 
 Stocket. Stocked. 
 
 Stook. Stouk. Twelve sheaves of corn put together. 
 Stoup. A deep narrow vessel for holding liquids. 
 Stour. Stowr. Dust in motion ; battle. 
 Stown. Stowin. Stolen. 
 Strae. Straw. 
 
 Straik. To stroke ; a blow ; an extent of country. 
 Strang. Strong. 
 Strapping. Tall and handsome. 
 Strath. A valley through which a river runs. 
 Streik. To stretch ; to lay a dead body out ; to extend ; to go 
 
 quickly; speed. 
 Streik. A handful or small bundle of flax. 
 Study. Stiiddie. An anvil. 
 
 Sturdy. A vertigo ; a disease in cattle and sheep. 
 Sumph, A blunt, soft fellow. 
 Sune. Soon. 
 Sunks. A kind of saddle on which two persons can sit at once. 
 
 voeir. 
 
 Sweer. Lazy ; indolent. Dead-Szueir. Extremely lazy 
 
 Sycht. Sight. 
 Syne. Afterwards. 
 Sythe. Boil.
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Sythed. Strained. 
 
 Tack. Takk, Take. A lease. 
 
 Tacket. A nail of a shoe. 
 
 Tae. The toe. 
 
 Taen. Taken. 
 
 Tag. A latchet ; a small piece. 
 
 Taid. A toad. 
 
 Tak. To take. 
 
 Ta/e. Account. 
 
 Tangs. Taings. The tongs. 
 
 Tappit-hcn. A crested hen ; a measure containing a quart. 
 
 Tarrow. To delay ; to complain of one's food. 
 
 Tary. To distress ; delay. 
 
 Tauld. Told. 
 
 Taivs. A whip ; a lash. 
 
 Tee. A mark set up in playing at quoits. — To tee a ha\ To set 
 
 it on a little nodule of earth, giving it the proper direction. 
 Teet. To peer. 
 
 Teethy. Crabbed ; ill-natured ; to show one's teeth. 
 Tent. To stretch out ; care ; to be attentive ; take care of. 
 Tentie. Watchful ; careful. 
 Tench. Tetigli. Tough ; tedious. 
 Thegither. Together. 
 Theekit. Thatched, roofed. 
 Themsels. Themselves. 
 Thick. Intimate ; familiar. 
 Thigg. To ask ; to beg ; to go about receiving supply, not as a 
 
 common mendicant. 
 Thole. To bear ; to suffer. 
 Ihrang. To throng. Crowded ; intimate ; pressed : press of 
 
 business.
 
 GLOSSARY. 199 
 
 Thrapple. To throttle, or strangle. The windpipe. 
 
 TJiraw. To wreathe ; to twist ; to distort : anger. 
 
 liy. To touch slightly; to dally; a little blow. 
 
 Till To. 
 
 Tin. Loss. — Tine. To lose. 
 
 Tint. Lost. 
 
 T.nkler. A tinker. 
 
 lither. Other. 
 
 Tocher. The dowry brought by a wife. 
 
 Tod. The fox. 
 
 Toolye, A broil ; to quarrel . 
 
 Toolyeing. Quarrelsome. 
 
 Tooni. Empty. 
 
 Toot. To blow a horn. 
 
 Tout. To blow on a horn ; a blow on a horn. 
 
 Traik. To go idly from place to place ; a plague j to be in 
 
 ill health. 
 Trew'd. Believed. 
 Trow. To believe. 
 Tnimp. A Jew's harp ; to deceive. 
 Ttiilyie. A quarrel ; a broil. 
 Tiva. Two. 
 
 Twalpenny. Twelvepenny. 
 
 Twitter. That part of a thread that is spun too small. 
 Tyke. A dog ; a selfish snarling fellow. 
 Tynd. To kindle. A harrow tooth. 
 
 Ulye. Oil. 
 
 6^;/f^. Unknown ; very, 
 Unsair''d. Unserved. 
 Unsonsie. Unlucky.
 
 200 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Untill. Unto. 
 
 Wa. Wae. Sorrow. 
 
 Wabsier. A weaver. 
 
 Wad. Would. 
 
 Wad. Wed. A pledge ; a wager ; to bet. 
 
 Wae. Waeness. Woe. Sorrow ; vexation. 
 
 Wae worth yoii. "Wo befal you. 
 
 Wa-gang. A departure ; a disagreeable taste after a thing is 
 
 swallowed. 
 Wail. To choose. 
 Wakerife. Wakeful ; watchful. 
 
 Waly. Prosperity. — Waly-fa. May good fortune befal. 
 Wamc. The womb ; the belly ; the stomach. 
 War. Worse ; were ; aware ; to expend. — War''d. Expended. 
 Wark. Work. 
 Warst. Worst. 
 Wat. To know. 
 
 Wauchle. To walk from side to side. 
 Waur. To overcome ; to outdo; to cheat. 
 Waykenning. Knowledge of the way from a place. 
 Wea7i. Wee-atie. A child. 
 Wecht. A utensil for winnowing corn, made in the form of a 
 
 sieve, of sheepskin. 
 Wee. Small; little; a short time. 
 Weel. Well. 
 
 Weet. Weit. Rain ; wetness ; to wet. 
 Weil. Prosperity. — Weil is me. Happy am I. 
 Weill-farrand. Having a goodly appearance. 
 Weird. Fate ; to destine. 
 Weirdless. Unprosperous.
 
 GLOSSARY. 201 
 
 Weise. Wyse. To use policy in obtaining an object ; to lead ; 
 
 to incline. 
 Wersh. Insipid to the taste. 
 Wha. Who. 
 Whalp. Whelp. 
 Whang. A thong. 
 Wliare. Where. 
 JVhatip. A curlew. 
 Whiles. Sometimes. 
 Whin. Furze. 
 Whinger. A short hanger, used as a knife at meals, and as a 
 
 sword in broils. 
 Whisker. A blusterer. 
 Whitely. Having a delicate or faded look. 
 Whitten. A kind of sea trout. 
 Wi'. With. 
 Widdie. A rope made of twigs of willow, used to denote a 
 
 halter ; vulgarly, the gallows itself. 
 Widdifou. To fill a widdie or halter ; one who deserves to fill 
 
 a halter. 
 Wife. A woman, married or unmarried, generally one past 
 
 middle age. 
 Wight. Strong. 
 Wilfu\ Wilful. 
 Windle-strae. A stalk of grass. 
 Winna. Will not. 
 Winsome. Gay ; merry ; cheerful. 
 Wit. To know. 
 Witc. To blame ; to accuse. 
 Wizzen. The throat. 
 Woefu\ Woful.
 
 202 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Wonly7ie. A bottle of straw or hay. 
 
 Woo. Wool. — Ifs ^' ae woo. It is all one. 
 
 Woo. To make love to. 
 
 Woodie. Young wood ; willow twig. 
 
 Worrie. To strangle. 
 
 Woiidna. Would not. 
 
 Wrang. Wrong. 
 
 Wild. Mad. — Wiidinan. A madman. 
 
 Wylie-coat. An under vest or under petticoat. 
 
 Wyte. Blame. 
 
 Yeald. Veld. Barren. 
 
 Ycrk. Be busy. 
 
 Yett. A gate ; to pour. 
 
 Yird. Earth ; soil ; to bury. 
 
 Yokin. The period in which a man and horse are engaged in 
 
 ploughing at one time. 
 Yo7tt. Beyond. 
 
 Yojtt. Further. — Yontermost. Still further. 
 Yoiik. To itch. — Youky. Itchy. 
 Yoiirsel. Yourself. 
 Ytde. The name given to Christmas. 
 Ytile-e'en. The night preceding Christmas. 
 
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