=Linkit at it=, went at it.
=Linties= (or =Lintwhites=), linnets.
=Loan=, a lane.
=Loof=, palm of the hand; the hand.
=Loot=, let (past tense).
=Lough=, a loch, lake.
=Loup= (also =lowp=), to leap.
=Lowe=, a flame.
=Lug=, ear.
=Lugget=, eared; =lugget caup=, the two-eared cup.
=Luggie=, a =cog= with an upright handle.
=Luntin=, smoking.
=Lyart=, faded, blanched.
=Mae=, more.
=Mailin=, a farm.
=Mark=, an old Scots coin (1s. 1½d. stg.).
=Martyrs=, a Scotch psalm tune.
=Maukin=, a hare.
=Maun=, must.
=Maut=, malt.
=Mavis=, the thrush.
=Melder=, a milling, or quantity of corn sent to be ground.
=Mell=, to meddle.
=Mense=, good manners, discretion.
=Messan=, a mongrel.
=Midden=, a dungheap.
=Midden-creels=, dungheap baskets.
=Mind=, to remind; to remember.
=Minnie=, mother.
=Mirk=, dark.
=Moop=, to nibble; to herd with.
=Mottie=, dusty.
=Mou’=, the mouth.
=Moudiewort=, a mole.
=Muslin-kail=, meatless broth.
=Mutchkin=, a liquid measure = 1 pint English.
=Naigie=, dim. of =naig=, a nag.
=Nappy=, ale, liquor.
=Near-hand=, nearly.
=Neuk=, corner.
=New-ca’d=, newly driven.
=Nieve=, fist.
=Niffer=, exchange.
=Nit=, a nut.
=Nowte=, cattle.
=Ourie=, shivering, drooping.
=Out-owre=, out-over, away across.
=Owsen=, oxen.
=Pack and thick=, confidental.
=Paidle=, to wade.
=Painch=, the paunch.
=Paitrick=, a partridge.
=Parishen=, the people of a parish.
=Pat=, did put.
=Pattle=, a plough-spade.
=Paughty=, pompous, haughty.
=Paukie= (or =pawkie=), sly.
=Pechan=, the stomach.
=Pechin’=, cramming.
=Pint= (Scots), two English quarts.
=Plack=, a small coin, about ⅓d.
=Plaiden=, of coarse woollen cloth.
=Poind=, distrain.
=Poortith=, poverty.
=Poussie=, the hare.
=Pow=, the poll, head.
=Pownie=, a pony.
=Prief=, proof.
=Priggin’=, haggling.
=Proveses=, provosts.
=Pyke=, to pick.
=Pyles=, grains, particles.
=Quat=, quitted.
=Quean=, a young woman, lass.
=Ragweed=, the ragwort.
=Rair=, to roar.
=Raize=, to excite, to anger.
=Ramfeezl’d=, fagged out.
=Ram-stam=, headlong, reckless.
=Rant=, to rollick, royster.
=Rants=, jollifications; rows.
=Rape=, a rope.
=Raploch=, coarse cloth.
=Rash=, a rush.
=Rash-buss=, a clump of rushes.
=Ratton=, a rat.
=Raw=, a row (of pins).
=Rax=, to stretch; to reach;
=Rax thy leather=, stretch or exercise thyself.
=Reave=, to rob.
=Red-wat-shod=, red-wet-shod.
=Reek=, smoke; to smoke.
=Reekit=, smoked, smoky.
=Remead=, remedy.
=Rig=, a ridge.
=Riggin=, the roof, roof-tree.
=Reestit=, scorched; rested = refused to go.
=Rigwoodie hags=, gallows hags (rigging for the =woodie=).
=Rip=, (or =ripp=,) a handful of corn from the sheaf.
=Rive=, to strain, rend, tear.
=Rock=, a distaff.
=Rockin=, a social meeting for song and chat and story, to which
the women brought their =rock= or distaff.
=Roose=, to praise, flatter.
=Rowe=, to roll.
=Rowte=, to low, bellow.
=Rowth=, abundance.
=Rung=, a cudgel.
=Sair=, sore; to serve.
=Sarkit=, shirted.
=Saugh=, the willow;
=saugh woodies=, willow-wands.
=Sawmont=, salmon.
=Scaith=, hurt.
=Scar= (or =Scaur=), a jutting cliff, or bank of earth.
=Scaur=, to scare; (adj.) readily scared.
=Scaud=, scald.
=Scho=, she.
=Sconner=, to loathe.
=Screed=, a rent, tear.
=Scrievin’=, careering; tearing along.
=Seizins=, freehold properties.
=Sets you=, becomes you.
=Seventeen-hunder linen=, fine linen, woven in a reed of 1700
divisions.
=Shachl’t=, large and shapeless.
=Shavie=, a trick.
=Shaw=, a wood.
=Sheuch=, a ditch, watercourse.
=Shiel=, a shed or hut.
=Shill=, shrill, shrilly.
=Sic=, such.
=Siller=, silver; money; wealth.
=Sinsyne=, since then.
=Skeigh=, skittish, coy.
=Skellum=, a scullion, a worthless fellow.
=Skelp=, to spank (in all the Eng. senses).
=Skinkin’=, watery.
=Skirl=, to shrill out, to scream.
=Sklent=, to slant, look aside; to cheat.
=Skriegh=, a scream.
=Shyrin’=, flaring.
=Skyte=, a glancing quick stroke.
=Slap=, a gap in a fence or wall, a gate.
=Sleeest=, slyest.
=Slypet=, slipped down.
=Smoor’d=, smothered.
=Smytrie=, a smattering, a clump.
=Snapper=, to stumble along.
=Snash=, abuse, insolence.
=Snaw-broo=, melted snow.
=Sned=, to crop, lop, prune;
=Sned besoms=, make birch-brooms.
=Snell=, bitter, biting.
=Sneeshin-mill=, the snuff-box.
=Snick= (or =sneck=), the door latchet.
=Snool=, to snub; to bear snubbing, cringe.
=Snoove=, to go slowly and steadily on.
=Snowkit=, pried with the nose.
=Sonsie=, plump and pleasant.
=Sough=, a sighing sound.
=Soupe= (or =Sowpe=), a “sup” of anything.
=Souter=, a cobbler.
=Sowth=, the low humming or whistling of one trying over a tune.
Cp. “soothe.”
=Sowther=, solder.
=Spairge=, sprinkle.
=Spate=, the flooding of a river or stream.
=Spavie=, the spavin.
=Spean=, to wean.
=Speel=, to climb.
=Speer=, =spier=, to inquire.
=Splore=, a jollification.
=Spotting=, ? making =spates=.
=Sprattle=, to scramble.
=Spring=, a quick dancing air on the pipes.
=Spritty=, full of roots of sprits, or rushes.
=Spunkies=, Will-o’-the-wisps.
=Stacher=, to stagger.
=Stang=, to sting.
=Stank=, a pool.
=Starns=, stars.
=Staumrel=, doltish, half-witted.
=Staw=, stole.
=Staw=, to disgust, turn the stomach.
=Stechin=, cramming.
=Steek=, to close, fasten.
=Steeks=, stitches, links (of a purse).
=Steer=, to stir, molest.
=Steeve=, firm, compact.
=Sten=, a leap, bound.
=Stents=, assessments, dues.
=Stey=, steep.
=Stilt=, to limp, halt.
=Stimpart=, a dry measure = about ½ peck.
=Stirk=, a young bullock or heifer (over a year old).
=Stocks=, heads (of cabbage, etc.)
=Stoiter=, to stagger.
=Stookit raw=, row of =stooks=, or shocks of corn.
=Stoor=, harsh, deep-sounding.
=Stoure=, dust (of toil, etc.)
=Stown=, (could) have stolen.
=Stowlins=, by stealth.
=Streekit=, stretched.
=Stroan’d=, spouted.
=Studdie=, an anvil.
=Sturt=, trouble.
=Sucker=, sugar.
=Swank=, limber, agile.
=Swarf=, to swoon.
=Swat=, sweated.
=Swats=, new ale.
=Swither=, hesitation.
=Syne=, then; since.
=Tapetless=, headless = silly.
=Tapsalteerie=, topsyturvy.
=Tassie=, a cup.
=Tawie=, quiet to handle.
=Tawted=, matted.
=Teat= (pron. =tait=), a little, a small quantity.
=Temper-pin=, the wooden pin that regulates (tempers), the motion
of the spinning-wheel.
=Tent=, care, heed; to care for, attend to.
=Tentie=, careful.
=Thack=, thatch.
=Thae=, those.
=Thairm=, fiddlestrings; intestines.
=Theekit=, thatched.
=Thegither=, together.
=Thieveless=, dry, unfriendly.
=Thir=, these.
=Thirl=, to thrill.
=Thole=, to endure, suffer.
=Thowe=, a thaw.
=Thowless=, lazy, good-for-nothing.
=Thrang=, busy; a throng.
=Thrave=, 24 sheaves (= 2 shocks) of corn.
=Thraw=, to cross, contradict; to twist;
=Thraw saugh woodies=, make (and peddle) baskets.
=Thrissle=, the thistle.
=Throu’ther=, =throwther=, pell-mell, mixed up.
=Till=, to;
=till’t=, to it.
=Timmer=, timber; the woods.
=Tine=, lose; be lost.
=Tint=, lost.
=Tinkler=, a tinker.
=Tirlin’=, rattling on the door-pin (= knocking for admittance.)
=Tittie=, sister.
=Tocher=, dowry; =tocher-band=, marriage-contract.
=Tod=, a fox.
=Toun= (often spelt =town=), a farm-house and the buildings
a-near; a hamlet.
=Towmond=, a twelvemonth.
=Toyte=, totter.
=Trig=, smart, neat.
=Tyke=, a vagrant dog.
=Unco=, great; very; strange.
=Uncos=, news; strangers.
=Vauntie=, proud, in high spirits.
=Virl=, the ring of metal round the point of a staff or umbrella.
=Wabster=, a weaver.
=Wad=, would; wager.
=Wae=, sorrowful.
=Waft=, a side excursion.
=Wair=, to spend, bestow.
=Wale=, to choose; a choice.
=Walie= (adj.), choice; goodly; large.
=Wame=, the belly.
=Wanchancie=, risky.
=Wanrestfu’=, restless.
=Wark-lume=, a tool.
=Warstle=, to wrestle, struggle.
=Waught=, a draught, or hearty drink.
=Wauken=, to awaken.
=Waukin’=, watching.
=Waukit=, hardened with work.
=Waukrife=, wakeful.
=Waur=, worse.
=Weans= (= =wee anes=), children.
=Weasan=, the weasand.
=We’se=, we will, or shall.
=Whaizle=, to wheeze.
=Whiddin=, scudding; =whids=, gambols.
=Whigmaleeries=, fantastical notions.
=Whins=, furze bushes.
=Whirligigums=, flourishes.
=Whitter=, a hearty draught.
=Whyles=, sometimes.
=Widdle=, the wriggle and struggle.
=Wimple=, to meander.
=Winnock-bunker=, a window-seat.
=Wintie=, a staggering motion.
=Woodie=, the gallows; a wand.
=Wordy=, worthy.
=Writers=, lawyers.
=Wud=, wild, mad.
=Wyte=, blame.
=Yell=, dry, milkless.
=Ye’se=, you shall or will.
=Yestreen=, last night.
=Yett=, gate.
=Yokin=, a yoking; a spell of work; a set to.
=Yont=, beyond.
=Yowe=, a ewe.
=Yowie= (dim. of =yowe=), a pet ewe.
=Yule=, Christmas (old style, however,
and therefore January 5).
[N.B.—The reader will do well to bear in mind that where Burns
uses, seemingly, a mixed dialect, the bias of feeling is towards
the vernacular; so that many words that are spelt as English must
be pronounced as Scotch in order to get the sense or rhyme or
both. See (e.g.) toun above.]
Index of First Lines
[The first lines of Choruses, as well as of the opening verses, are
given in this Index.]
Ae fond kiss, and then we sever, 73
Again rejoicing nature sees, 58
A guid New-Year I wish thee, Maggie, 37
Ah, Chloris, since it may na be, 72
Ance crowdie, twice crowdie, 150
An’ O for ane an’ twenty, Tam, 34
An’ O! my Eppie, 148
As cauld a wind as ever blew, 119
As Mailie, an’ her lambs thegither, 94
Awa wi’ your witchcraft o’ beauty’s alarms, 132
Ay waukin, O, 163
Bannocks o’ bear meal, 155
Behind yon hills where Lugar flows, 20
Blythe, blythe and merry was she, 7
Bonnie lassie, will ye go, 3
Braw braw lads on Yarrow braes, 75
By Ochtertyre there grows the aik, 7
By yon castle wa’, at the close of the day, 12
Ca’ the yowes to the knowes, 108
Cauld is the e’enin’ blast, 130
Coming through the rye, poor body, 156
Contented wi’ little, and cantie wi’ mair, 47
Dear Smith, the sleest pawkie thief, 114
Does haughty Gaul invasion threat, 169
Duncan Gray came here to woo, 18
Edina, Scotia’s darling seat, 69
Fair fa’ your honest sonsie face, 154
Farewell, ye dungeons dark and strong, 74
First when Maggie was my care, 130
Flow gently, sweet Afton, among thy green braes, 9
For a’ that, and a’ that, 167
For auld lang syne, my dear, 170
Gane is the day, and mirk’s the night, 51
Go fetch to me a pint o’ wine, 6
Green grow the rashes O, 22
Hale be your heart, hale be your fiddle, 61
Hark, the mavis’ e’ening sang, 108
Here awa, there awa, wandering Willie, 112
Here’s a health to them that’s awa, 168
He’s gane, he’s gane! he’s frae us torn, 142
Husband, husband, cease your strife, 131
I am my mammie’s ae bairn, 103
I coft a stane o’ haslock woo’, 57
I dread thee, Fate, relentless and severe, 164
I gat your letter, winsome Willie, 98
I hae a wife o’ my ain, 91
I lang hae thought, my youthfu’ friend, 151
I’ll aye ca’ in by yon town, 36
I mind it weel, in early date, 164
I’m owre young, I’m owre young, 103
I see a form, I see a face, 36
Is there a whim-inspirèd fool, 161
Is there, for honest poverty, 167
I tell you now this ae night, 135
It is na, Jean, thy bonnie face, 90
It was a’ for our rightfu’ King, 11
It was upon a Lammas night, 21
Jenny’s a’ wat, poor body, 156
John Anderson my jo, John, 58
Lament in rhyme, lament in prose, 96
Lassie wi’ the lint-white locks, 41
Last May a braw wooer cam down the lang glen, 101
Let half-starv’d slaves in warmer skies, 82
Let other Poets raise a fracas, 78
Loud blaw the frosty breezes, 138
Meet me on the warlock knowe, 10
My heart is a-breaking, dear Tittie, 32
My heart is sair, I dare na tell, 33
My heart’s in the Highlands, my heart is not here, 139
My heart was ance as blythe and free, 104
My lady’s gown there’s gairs upon’t, 43
My lord a-hunting he is gane, 43
My Lord, I know your noble ear, 135
My love is like a red red rose, 6
My love she’s but a lassie yet, 84
November chill blaws loud wi’ angry sough, 180
Now in her green mantle blythe Nature arrays, 74
Now Nature cleeds the flowery lea, 41
Now rosy May comes in wi’ flowers, 10
Now simmer blinks on flowery braes, 3
Now westlin winds and slaughtering guns, 120
O cam ye here the fight to shun, 16
Of a’ the airts the wind can blaw, 90
O guid ale comes, and guid ale goes, 84
Oh, open the door, some pity to shew, 111
O how can I be blithe and glad, 89
O Kenmure’s on and awa, Willie, 13
O lassie, art thou sleeping yet, 134
O leeze me on my spinnin’ wheel, 146
O let me in this ae night, 134
O Logan, sweetly didst thou glide, 15
O Luve will venture in, where it daur na weel be seen, 42
O Mary, at thy window be, 2
O May, thy morn was ne’er sae sweet, 129
O poortith cauld, and restless love, 122
O rattlin’, roarin’ Willie, 51
O saw ye bonnie Lesley, 71
O that I had ne’er been married, 150
O this is no my ain lassie, 36
O Thou unknown Almighty Cause, 159
O Thou, whatever title suit thee, 125
O Tibbie, I hae seen the day, 123
Out over the Forth I look to the north, 113
O, wat ye wha’s in yon town, 34
O were I on Parnassus hill, 92
O, wert thou in the cauld blast, 140
O wha my babie-clouts will buy, 63
O whistle, and I’ll come to you, my lad, 62
O why should fate sic pleasure have, 123
O Willie brew’d a peck o’ maut, 50
O ye wha are sae guid yoursel, 106
Robin was a rovin’ boy, 1
Sae rantingly, sae wantonly, 74
Scots, wha hae wi’ Wallace bled, 166
She is a winsome wee thing, 93
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, 170
Simmer’s a pleasant time, 163
The bonniest lad that e’er I saw, 68
The cardin’ o’t, the spinnin’ o’t, 57
The Catrine woods were yellow seen, 162
The gloomy night is gathering fast, 67
The lovely lass o’ Inverness, 140
The red-coat lads, wi’ black cockades, 17
Then guidwife, count the lawin, 51
Then hey, for a lass wi’ a tocher, 132
There’s auld Rob Morris that wons in yon glen, 122
There’s naught but care on ev’ry han’, 22
There was a lad was born in Kyle, 1
There was a lass, and she was fair, 109
There was a lass, they ca’d her Meg, 60
There was three Kings into the east, 48
The sun had closed the winter day, 200
The wind blew hollow frae the hills, 157
The wintry wast extends his blast, 46
Tho’ cruel fate should bid us part, 31
Thou hast left me ever, Jamie, 113
Thou lingering star, with lessening ray, 14
To the weavers gin ye go, fair maids, 105
’Twas even—the dewy fields were green, 141
’Twas in that place o’ Scotland’s Isle, 172
’Twas when the stacks got on their winter-hap, 186
Up in the morning’s no’ for me, 92
We are na fou’, we’re no that fou’, 50
Wee modest crimson-tippèd flow’r, 44
Wee, sleekit, cow’rin’, tim’rous beastie, 4
What can a young lassie, what shall a young lassie, 104
When biting Boreas, fell and dour, 23
When chapman billies leave the street, 193
When chill November’s surly blast, 64
When I think on the happy days, 12
When o’er the hill the eastern star, 145
Where Cart rins rowin’ to the sea, 147
While briers an’ woodbines budding green, 52
While new-ca’d kye rowte at the stake, 85
While winds frae aff Ben-Lomond blaw, 26
Why am I loath to leave this earthly scene, 160
Wi’ braw new branks in mickle pride, 76
Willie Wastle dwalt on Tweed, 133
Wow, but your letter made me vauntie, 149
Ye banks, and braes, and streams around, 8
Ye banks and braes o’ bonnie Doon, 120
WILLIAM BRENDON AND SON, LTD.
PRINTERS, PLYMOUTH
List of Poem Titles
Songs and Lyrics
THERE WAS A LAD
MARY MORISON
THE BIRKS OF ABERFELDY
TO A MOUSE, ON TURNING HER UP IN HER NEST WITH THE PLOUGH, NOVEMBER, 1785
GO FETCH TO ME A PINT O’ WINE
MY LOVE IS LIKE A RED RED ROSE
BLYTHE AND MERRY
HIGHLAND MARY
AFTON WATER
DAINTY DAVIE
IT WAS A’ FOR OUR RIGHTFU’ KING
WHEN I THINK ON THE HAPPY DAYS
THERE’LL NEVER BE PEACE TILL JAMIE COMES HAME
KENMURE’S ON AND AWA
TO MARY IN HEAVEN
LOGAN BRAES
ON THE BATTLE OF SHERIFFMUIR
DUNCAN GRAY
MY NANNIE O
THE RIGS O’ BARLEY
GREEN GROW THE RASHES
A WINTER NIGHT
THE RICHES OF THE POOR
THO’ CRUEL FATE
TAM GLEN
FOR THE SAKE OF SOMEBODY
O, FOR ANE AN’ TWENTY, TAM!
O, WAT YE WHA’S IN YON TOWN?
O THIS IS NO MY AIN LASSIE
I’LL AYE CA’ IN BY YON TOWN
THE AULD FARMER’S NEW-YEAR MORNING SALUTATION TO HIS AULD MARE, MAGGIE,
LASSIE WI’ THE LINT-WHITE LOCKS
THE POSIE
MY LADY’S GOWN THERE’S GAIRS UPON’T
TO A MOUNTAIN DAISY
THOUGHTS IN WINTER
CONTENTED WI’ LITTLE
JOHN BARLEYCORN
WILLIE BREWED
COUNT THE LAWIN
RATTLIN’, ROARIN’ WILLIE
AN OFFER OF FRIENDSHIP
THE CARDIN’ O’T
JOHN ANDERSON MY JO
AND MAUN I STILL ON MENIE DOAT
DUNCAN DAVISON
AN EXHORTATION TO DAVIE
WHISTLE, AND I’LL COME TO YOU, MY LAD
THE RANTIN’ DOG THE DADDIE O’T
MAN WAS MADE TO MOURN
THE GLOOMY NIGHT
THE HIGHLAND LADDIE
ADDRESS TO EDINBURGH
BONNIE LESLEY
AH, CHLORIS
AE FOND KISS
MY NANNIE’S AWA
MACPHERSON’S FAREWELL
BRAW LADS
IN A FRIEND’S CAUSE
SCOTCH DRINK
ANOTHER OF THE SAME
A BOUSING CATCH
THE MALTWORM’S RUNE
POETS FOR EVER!
THE BONNIE LAD THAT’S FAR AWA
OF A’ THE AIRTS
IT IS NA, JEAN, THY BONNIE FACE
I HAE A WIFE
UP IN THE MORNING
O WERE I ON PARNASSUS HILL
MY WIFE’S A WINSOME WEE THING
THE DEATH AND DYING WORDS OF POOR MAILIE, THE AUTHOR’S ONLY PET YOWE
POOR MAILIE’S ELEGY
THE BARDS OF AYR
LAST MAY A BRAW WOOER
I’M OWRE YOUNG TO MARRY YET
WHAT CAN A YOUNG LASSIE DO WI’ AN AULD MAN?
TO THE WEAVERS GIN YE GO
ADDRESS TO THE UNCO GUID, OR THE RIGIDLY RIGHTEOUS
CA’ THE YOWES TO THE KNOWES
AYE SHE WROUGHT HER MAMMIE’S WARK
OPEN THE DOOR TO ME, OH!
WANDERING WILLIE
OUT OVER THE FORTH
THOU HAST LEFT ME EVER, JAMIE
ROWTH O’ RHYMES THE POET’S RICHES
THE KIRK OF LAMINGTON
YE BANKS AND BRAES
NOW WESTLIN WINDS
AULD ROB MORRIS
POORTITH CAULD
TIBBIE, I HAE SEEN THE DAY
ADDRESS TO THE DEIL
O MAY, THY MORN
PEG-A-RAMSEY
WHISTLE OWRE THE LAVE O’T
HUSBAND, HUSBAND, CEASE YOUR STRIFE
HEY FOR A LASS WI’ A TOCHER
SIC A WIFE AS WILLIE HAD
O LASSIE, ART THOU SLEEPING YET?
THE HUMBLE PETITION OF BRUAR WATER TO THE NOBLE DUKE OF ATHOLE
YOUNG HIGHLAND ROVER
MY HEART’S IN THE HIGHLANDS
THE LOVELY LASS OF INVERNESS
O, WERT THOU IN THE CAULD BLAST
THE LASS O’ BALLOCHMYLE
ELEGY ON CAPT. MATTHEW HENDERSON
MY AIN KIND DEARIE O
BESSY AND HER SPINNIN’ WHEEL
THE GALLANT WEAVER
EPPIE ADAIR
FOR WEANS AND WIFE
CROWDIE EVER MAIR
‘BRAW SOBER LESSONS’
TO A HAGGIS
BANNOCKS O’ BARLEY
COMING THROUGH THE RYE
LAMENT FOR JAMES, EARL OF GLENCAIRN
A PRAYER IN THE PROSPECT OF DEATH
STANZAS ON THE SAME OCCASION
A BARD’S EPITAPH
THE BRAES O’ BALLOCHMYLE
AY WAUKIN, O
IN EVIL DAYS
THE POETIC DAYSPRING
SCOTS WHA HAE
FOR A’ THAT AND A’ THAT
HERE’S A HEALTH TO THEM THAT’S AWA
DOES HAUGHTY GAUL
AULD LANG SYNE
Longer Poems
THE TWA DOGS
THE COTTER’S SATURDAY NIGHT
THE BRIGS OF AYR
TAM O’ SHANTER
THE VISION