sun broke up, and drifted away in cloudy bergs, as if scattered on the
diverging currents of solar radiance that burst from the gates of the
west, and streamed east and north and south over the heavens and over
the sea. To the north, these masses built a cloudy bridge across the
sky from horizon to horizon, and beneath it shone the rosy-sailed ships
floating stately through their triumphal arch up the channel to their
home. Other clouds floated stately too in the upper sea over our heads,
with dense forms, thinning into vaporous edges. Some were of a dull
angry red; some of as exquisite a primrose hue as ever the flower itself
bore on its bosom; and betwixt their edges beamed out the sweetest,
purest, most melting, most transparent blue, the heavenly blue which is
the symbol of the spirit as red is of the heart. I think I never saw
a blue to satisfy me before. Some of these clouds threw shadows of
many-shaded purple upon the green sea; and from one of the shadows, so
dark and so far out upon the glooming horizon that it looked like
an island, arose as from a pier, a wondrous structure of dim, fairy
colours, a multitude of rainbow-ends, side by side, that would have
spanned the heavens with a gorgeous arch, but failed from the very
grandeur of the idea, and grew up only a few degrees against the clouded
west. I stood rapt. The two Falconers were at some distance before me,
walking arm in arm. They stood and gazed likewise. It was as if God had
said to the heavens and the earth and the chord of the seven colours,
'Comfort ye, comfort ye my people.' And I said to my soul, 'Let the
tempest rave in the world; let sorrow wail like a sea-bird in the midst
thereof; and let thy heart respond to her shivering cry; but the vault
of heaven encloses the tempest and the shrieking bird and the echoing
heart; and the sun of God's countenance can with one glance from above
change the wildest winter day into a summer evening compact of poets'
dreams.'
My companions were walking up over the hill. I could see that Falconer
was earnestly speaking in his father's ear. The old man's head was bent
towards the earth. I kept away. They made a turn from home. I still
followed at a distance. The evening began to grow dark. The autumn wind
met us again, colder, stronger, yet more laden with the odours of death
and the frosts of the coming winter. But it no longer blew as from the
charnel-house of the past; it blew from the stars through the chinks of
the unopened door on the other side of the sepulchre. It was a wind
of the worlds, not a wind of the leaves. It told of the march of the
spheres, and the rest of the throne of God. We were going on into the
universe--home to the house of our Father. Mighty adventure! Sacred
repose! And as I followed the pair, one great star throbbed and radiated
over my head.
CHAPTER XVIII. THREE GENERATIONS.
The next week I went back to my work, leaving the father and son alone
together. Before I left, I could see plainly enough that the bonds
were being drawn closer between them. A whole month passed before they
returned to London. The winter then had set in with unusual severity.
But it seemed to bring only health to the two men. When I saw Andrew
next, there was certainly a marked change upon him. Light had banished
the haziness from his eye, and his step was a good deal firmer. I can
hardly speak of more than the physical improvement, for I saw very
little of him now. Still I did think I could perceive more of judgment
in his face, as if he sometimes weighed things in his mind. But it was
plain that Robert continued very careful not to let him a moment out
of his knowledge. He busied him with the various sights of London,
for Andrew, although he knew all its miseries well, had never yet been
inside Westminster Abbey. If he could only trust him enough to get him
something to do! But what was he fit for? To try him, he proposed once
that he should write some account of what he had seen and learned in
his wanderings; but the evident distress with which he shrunk from the
proposal was grateful to the eyes and heart of his son.
It was almost the end of the year when a letter arrived from John
Lammie, informing Robert that his grandmother had caught a violent cold,
and that, although the special symptoms had disappeared, it was evident
her strength was sinking fast, and that she would not recover.
He read the letter to his father.
'We must go and see her, Robert, my boy,' said Andrew.
It was the first time that he had shown the smallest desire to visit
her. Falconer rose with glad heart, and proceeded at once to make
arrangements for their journey.
It was a cold, powdery afternoon in January, with the snow thick on the
ground, save where the little winds had blown the crown of the street
bare before Mrs. Falconer's house. A post-chaise with four horses swept
wearily round the corner, and pulled up at her door. Betty opened it,
and revealed an old withered face very sorrowful, and yet expectant.
Falconer's feelings I dare not, Andrew's I cannot attempt to describe,
as they stepped from the chaise and entered. Betty led the way without a
word into the little parlour. Robert went next, with long quiet strides,
and Andrew followed with gray, bowed head. Grannie was not in her chair.
The doors which during the day concealed the bed in which she slept,
were open, and there lay the aged woman with her eyes closed. The room
was as it had always been, only there seemed a filmy shadow in it that
had not been there before.
'She's deein', sir,' whispered Betty. 'Ay is she. Och hone!'
Robert took his father's hand, and led him towards the bed. They drew
nigh softly, and bent over the withered, but not even yet very wrinkled
face. The smooth, white, soft hands lay on the sheet, which was folded
back over her bosom. She was asleep, or rather, she slumbered.
But the soul of the child began to grow in the withered heart of the old
man as he regarded his older mother, and as it grew it forced the tears
to his eyes, and the words to his lips.
'Mother!' he said, and her eyelids rose at once. He stooped to kiss
her, with the tears rolling down his face. The light of heaven broke and
flashed from her aged countenance. She lifted her weak hands, took his
head, and held it to her bosom.
'Eh! the bonnie gray heid!' she said, and burst into a passion of
weeping. She had kept some tears for the last. Now she would spend all
that her griefs had left her. But there came a pause in her sobs, though
not in her weeping, and then she spoke.
'I kent it a' the time, O Lord. I kent it a' the time. He's come hame.
My Anerew, my Anerew! I'm as happy 's a bairn. O Lord! O Lord!'
And she burst again into sobs, and entered paradise in radiant weeping.
Her hands sank away from his head, and when her son gazed in her face he
saw that she was dead. She had never looked at Robert.
The two men turned towards each other. Robert put out his arms. His
father laid his head on his bosom, and went on weeping. Robert held him
to his heart.
When shall a man dare to say that God has done all he can?
CHAPTER XIX. THE WHOLE STORY.
The men laid their mother's body with those of the generations that had
gone before her, beneath the long grass in their country churchyard
near Rothieden--a dreary place, one accustomed to trim cemeteries and
sentimental wreaths would call it--to Falconer's mind so friendly to the
forsaken dust, because it lapt it in sweet oblivion.
They returned to the dreary house, and after a simple meal such as both
had used to partake of in their boyhood, they sat by the fire, Andrew in
his mother's chair, Robert in the same chair in which he had learned his
Sallust and written his versions. Andrew sat for a while gazing into the
fire, and Robert sat watching his face, where in the last few months a
little feeble fatherhood had begun to dawn.
'It was there, father, that grannie used to sit, every day, sometimes
looking in the fire for hours, thinking about you, I know,' Robert said
at length.
Andrew stirred uneasily in his chair.
'How do you know that?' he asked.
'If there was one thing I could be sure of, it was when grannie was
thinking about you, father. Who wouldn't have known it, father, when her
lips were pressed together, as if she had some dreadful pain to bear,
and her eyes were looking away through the fire--so far away! and I
would speak to her three times before she would answer? She lived only
to think about God and you, father. God and you came very close together
in her mind. Since ever I can remember, almost, the thought of you was
just the one thing in this house.'
Then Robert began at the beginning of his memory, and told his father
all that he could remember. When he came to speak about his solitary
musings in the garret, he said--and long before he reached this part, he
had relapsed into his mother tongue:
'Come and luik at the place, father. I want to see 't again, mysel'.'
He rose. His father yielded and followed him. Robert got a candle in the
kitchen, and the two big men climbed the little narrow stair and stood
in the little sky of the house, where their heads almost touched the
ceiling.
'I sat upo' the flure there,' said Robert, 'an' thoucht and thoucht what
I wad du to get ye, father, and what I wad du wi' ye whan I had gotten
ye. I wad greit whiles, 'cause ither laddies had a father an' I had
nane. An' there's whaur I fand mamma's box wi' the letter in 't and her
ain picter: grannie gae me that ane o' you. An' there's whaur I used
to kneel doon an' pray to God. An' he's heard my prayers, and grannie's
prayers, and here ye are wi' me at last. Instead o' thinkin' aboot ye,
I hae yer ain sel'. Come, father, I want to say a word o' thanks to God,
for hearin' my prayer.'
He took the old man's hand, led him to the bedside, and kneeled with him
there.
My reader can hardly avoid thinking it was a poor sad triumph that
Robert had after all. How the dreams of the boy had dwindled in settling
down into the reality! He had his father, it was true, but what a
father! And how little he had him!
But this was not the end; and Robert always believed that the end must
be the greater in proportion to the distance it was removed, to give
time for its true fulfilment. And when he prayed aloud beside his
father, I doubt not that his thanksgiving and his hope were equal.
The prayer over, he took his father's hand and led him down again to the
little parlour, and they took their seats again by the fire; and Robert
began again and went on with his story, not omitting the parts belonging
to Mary St. John and Eric Ericson.
When he came to tell how he had encountered him in the deserted factory:
'Luik here, father, here's the mark o' the cut,' he said, parting the
thick hair on the top of his head.
His father hid his face in his hands.
'It wasna muckle o' a blow that ye gied me, father,' he went on, 'but
I fell against the grate, and that was what did it. And I never tellt
onybody, nae even Miss St. John, wha plaistered it up, hoo I had gotten
't. And I didna mean to say onything aboot it; but I wantit to tell ye a
queer dream, sic a queer dream it garred me dream the same nicht.'
As he told the dream, his father suddenly grew attentive, and before he
had finished, looked almost scared; but he said nothing. When he came
to relate his grandmother's behaviour after having discovered that the
papers relating to the factory were gone, he hid his face in his hands
once more. He told him how grannie had mourned and wept over him, from
the time when he heard her praying aloud as he crept through her room
at night to their last talk together after Dr. Anderson's death. He set
forth, as he could, in the simplest language, the agony of her soul over
her lost son. He told him then about Ericson, and Dr. Anderson, and how
good they had been to him, and at last of Dr. Anderson's request that he
would do something for him in India.
'Will ye gang wi' me, father?' he asked.
'I'll never leave ye again, Robert, my boy,' he answered. 'I have been
a bad man, and a bad father, and now I gie mysel' up to you to mak the
best o' me ye can. I daurna leave ye, Robert.'
'Pray to God to tak care o' ye, father. He'll do a'thing for ye, gin
ye'll only lat him.'
'I will, Robert.'
'I was mysel' dreidfu' miserable for a while,' Robert resumed, 'for I
cudna see or hear God at a'; but God heard me, and loot me ken that he
was there an' that a' was richt. It was jist like whan a bairnie waukens
up an' cries oot, thinkin' it's its lane, an' through the mirk comes
the word o' the mither o' 't, sayin', “I'm here, cratur: dinna greit.”
And I cam to believe 'at he wad mak you a good man at last. O father,
it's been my dream waukin' an' sleepin' to hae you back to me an'
grannie, an' mamma, an' the Father o' 's a', an' Jesus Christ that's
done a'thing for 's. An' noo ye maun pray to God, father. Ye will pray
to God to haud a grip o' ye--willna ye, father?'
'I will, I will, Robert. But I've been an awfu' sinner. I believe I was
the death o' yer mother, laddie.'
Some closet of memory was opened; a spring of old tenderness gushed
up in his heart; at some window of the past the face of his dead wife
looked out: the old man broke into a great cry, and sobbed and wept
bitterly. Robert said no more, but wept with him.
Henceforward the father clung to his son like a child. The heart of
Falconer turned to his Father in heaven with speechless thanksgiving.
The ideal of his dreams was beginning to dawn, and his life was
new-born.
For a few days Robert took Andrew about to see those of his old friends
who were left, and the kindness with which they all received him, moved
Andrew's heart not a little. Every one who saw him seemed to feel that
he or she had a share in the redeeming duty of the son. Robert was in
their eyes like a heavenly messenger, whom they were bound to aid;
for here was the possessed of demons clothed and in his right mind.
Therefore they overwhelmed both father and son with kindness. Especially
at John Lammie's was he received with a perfection of hospitality; as
if that had been the father's house to which he had returned from his
prodigal wanderings.
The good old farmer begged that they would stay with him for a few days.
'I hae sae mony wee things to luik efter at Rothieden, afore we gang,'
said Robert.
'Weel, lea' yer father here. We s' tak guid care o' 'im, I promise ye.'
'There's only ae difficulty. I believe ye are my father's frien', Mr.
Lammie, as ye hae been mine, and God bless ye; sae I'll jist tell you
the trowth, what for I canna lea' him. I'm no sure eneuch yet that he
could withstan' temptation. It's the drink ye ken. It's months sin' he's
tasted it; but--ye ken weel eneuch--the temptation's awfu'. Sin' ever
I got him back, I haena tasted ae mou'fu' o' onything that cud be ca'd
strong drink mysel', an' as lang 's he lives, not ae drap shall cross my
lips--no to save my life.'
'Robert,' said Mr. Lammie, giving him his hand with solemnity, 'I sweir
by God that he shanna see, smell, taste, nor touch drink in this hoose.
There's but twa boatles o' whusky, i' the shape o' drink, i' the hoose;
an' gin ye say 'at he sall bide, I'll gang and mak them an' the midden
weel acquant.'
Andrew was pleased at the proposal. Robert too was pleased that his
father should be free of him for a while. It was arranged for three
days. Half-an-hour after, Robert came upon Mr. Lammie emptying the two
bottles of whisky into the dunghill in the farmyard.
He returned with glad heart to Rothieden. It did not take him long to
arrange his grandmother's little affairs. He had already made up his
mind about her house and furniture. He rang the bell one morning for
Betty.
'Hae ye ony siller laid up, Betty?'
'Ay. I hae feifteen poun' i' the savin's bank.'
'An' what do ye think o' doin'?'
'I'll get a bit roomy, an' tak in washin'.
'Weel, I'll tell ye what I wad like ye to do. Ye ken Mistress
Elshender?'
'Fine that. An' a verra dacent body she is.'
'Weel, gin ye like, ye can haud this hoose, an' a' 'at's in't, jist as
it is, till the day o' yer deith. And ye'll aye keep it in order, an'
the ga'le-room ready for me at ony time I may happen to come in upo'
ye in want o' a nicht's quarters. But I wad like ye, gin ye hae nae
objections, to tak Mistress Elshender to bide wi' ye. She's turnin' some
frail noo, and I'm unner great obligation to her Sandy, ye ken.'
'Ay, weel that. He learnt ye to fiddle, Robert--I hoombly beg your
pardon, sir, Mister Robert.'
'Nae offence, Betty, I assure ye. Ye hae been aye gude to me, and I
thank ye hertily.'
Betty could not stand this. Her apron went up to her eyes.
'Eh, sir,' she sobbed, 'ye was aye a gude lad.'
'Excep' whan I spak o' Muckledrum, Betty.'
She laughed and sobbed together.
'Weel, ye'll tak Mistress Elshender in, winna ye?'
'I'll do that, sir. And I'll try to do my best wi' her.'
'She can help ye, ye ken, wi' yer washin', an' sic like.'
'She's a hard-workin' wuman, sir. She wad do that weel.'
'And whan ye're in ony want o' siller, jist write to me. An' gin
onything suld happen to me, ye ken, write to Mr. Gordon, a frien' o'
mine. There's his address in Lonnon.'
'Eh, sir, but ye are kin'. God bless ye for a'.'
She could bear no more, and left the room crying.
Everything settled at Rothieden, he returned to Bodyfauld. The most
welcome greeting he had ever received in his life, lay in the shine
of his father's eyes when he entered the room where he sat with Miss
Lammie. The next day they left for London.
CHAPTER XX. THE VANISHING.
They came to see me the very evening of their arrival. As to Andrew's
progress there could be no longer any doubt. All that was necessary for
conviction on the point was to have seen him before and to see him now.
The very grasp of his hand was changed. But not yet would Robert leave
him alone.
It will naturally occur to my reader that his goodness was not much yet.
It was not. It may have been greater than we could be sure of, though.
But if any one object that such a conversion, even if it were perfected,
was poor, inasmuch as the man's free will was intromitted with, I
answer: 'The development of the free will was the one object. Hitherto
it was not free.' I ask the man who says so: 'Where would your free will
have been if at some period of your life you could have had everything
you wanted?' If he says it is nobler in a man to do with less help,
I answer, 'Andrew was not noble: was he therefore to be forsaken? The
prodigal was not left without the help of the swine and their husks, at
once to keep him alive and disgust him with the life. Is the less help
a man has from God the better?' According to you, the grandest thing of
all would be for a man sunk in the absolute abysses of sensuality all at
once to resolve to be pure as the empyrean, and be so, without help from
God or man. But is the thing possible? As well might a hyena say: I will
be a man, and become one. That would be to create. Andrew must be kept
from the evil long enough to let him at least see the good, before he
was let alone. But when would we be let alone? For a man to be fit to be
let alone, is for a man not to need God, but to be able to live without
him. Our hearts cry out, 'To have God is to live. We want God. Without
him no life of ours is worth living. We are not then even human, for
that is but the lower form of the divine. We are immortal, eternal: fill
us, O Father, with thyself. Then only all is well.' More: I heartily
believe, though I cannot understand the boundaries of will and
inspiration, that what God will do for us at last is infinitely beyond
any greatness we could gain, even if we could will ourselves from the
lowest we could be, into the highest we can imagine. It is essential
divine life we want; and there is grand truth, however incomplete or
perverted, in the aspiration of the Brahmin. He is wrong, but he wants
something right. If the man had the power in his pollution to will
himself into the right without God, the fact that he was in that
pollution with such power, must damn him there for ever. And if God must
help ere a man can be saved, can the help of man go too far towards the
same end? Let God solve the mystery--for he made it. One thing is sure:
We are his, and he will do his part, which is no part but the all in
all. If man could do what in his wildest self-worship he can imagine,
the grand result would be that he would be his own God, which is the
Hell of Hells.
For some time I had to give Falconer what aid I could in being with his
father while he arranged matters in prospect of their voyage to India.
Sometimes he took him with him when he went amongst his people, as he
called the poor he visited. Sometimes, when he wanted to go alone, I
had to take him to Miss St. John, who would play and sing as I had never
heard any one play or sing before. Andrew on such occasions carried his
flute with him, and the result of the two was something exquisite. How
Miss St. John did lay herself out to please the old man! And pleased he
was. I think her kindness did more than anything else to make him feel
like a gentleman again. And in his condition that was much.
At length Falconer would sometimes leave him with Miss St. John, till
he or I should go for him: he knew she could keep him safe. He knew that
she would keep him if necessary.
One evening when I went to see Falconer, I found him alone. It was one
of these occasions.
'I am very glad you have come, Gordon,' he said. 'I was wanting to see
you. I have got things nearly ready now. Next month, or at latest, the
one after, we shall sail; and I have some business with you which had
better be arranged at once. No one knows what is going to happen. The
man who believes the least in chance knows as little as the man who
believes in it the most. My will is in the hands of Dobson. I have left
you everything.'
I was dumb.
'Have you any objection?' he said, a little anxiously.
'Am I able to fulfil the conditions?' I faltered.
'I have burdened you with no conditions,' he returned. 'I don't believe
in conditions. I know your heart and mind now. I trust you perfectly.'
'I am unworthy of it.'
'That is for me to judge.'
'Will you have no trustees?'
'Not one.'
'What do you want me to do with your property?'
'You know well enough. Keep it going the right way.'
'I will always think what you would like.'
'No; do not. Think what is right; and where there is no right or wrong
plain in itself, then think what is best. You may see good reason to
change some of my plans. You may be wrong; but you must do what you see
right--not what I see or might see right.'
'But there is no need to talk so seriously about it,' I said. 'You will
manage it yourself for many years yet. Make me your steward, if you
like, during your absence: I will not object to that.'
'You do not object to the other, I hope?'
'No.'
'Then so let it be. The other, of course. I have, being a lawyer myself,
taken good care not to trust myself only with the arranging of these
matters. I think you will find them all right.'
'But supposing you should not return--you have compelled me to make the
supposition--'
'Of course. Go on.'
'What am I to do with the money in the prospect of following you?'
'Ah! that is the one point on which I want a word, although I do not
think it is necessary. I want to entail the property.'
'How?'
'By word of mouth,' he answered, laughing. 'You must look out for a
right man, as I have done, get him to know your ways and ideas, and if
you find him worthy--that is a grand wide word--our Lord gave it to his
disciples--leave it all to him in the same way I have left it to you,
trusting to the spirit of truth that is in him, the spirit of God. You
can copy my will--as far as it will apply, for you may have, one way or
another, lost the half of it by that time. But, by word of mouth, you
must make the same condition with him as I have made with you--that is,
with regard to his leaving it, and the conditions on which he leaves it,
adding the words, “that it may descend thus in perpetuum.” And he must
do the same.'
He broke into a quiet laugh. I knew well enough what he meant. But he
added:
'That means, of course, for as long as there is any.'
'Are you sure you are doing right, Falconer?' I said.
'Quite. It is better to endow one man, who will work as the Father
works, than a hundred charities. But it is time I went to fetch my
father. Will you go with me?'
This was all that passed between us on the subject, save that, on our
way, he told me to move to his rooms, and occupy them until he returned.
'My papers,' he added, 'I commit to your discretion.'
On our way back from Queen Square, he joked and talked merrily. Andrew
joined in. Robert showed himself delighted with every attempt at gaiety
or wit that Andrew made. When we reached the house, something that had
occurred on the way made him turn to Martin Chuzzlewit, and he read Mrs.
Gamp's best to our great enjoyment.
I went down with the two to Southampton, to see them on board the
steamer. I staid with them there until she sailed. It was a lovely
morning in the end of April, when at last I bade them farewell on the
quarter-deck. My heart was full. I took his hand and kissed it. He put
his arms round me, and laid his cheek to mine. I was strong to bear the
parting.
The great iron steamer went down in the middle of the Atlantic, and I
have not yet seen my friend again.
CHAPTER XXI. IN EXPECTATIONE.
I had left my lodging and gone to occupy Falconer's till his return.
There, on a side-table among other papers, I found the following
verses. The manuscript was much scored and interlined, but more than
decipherable, for he always wrote plainly. I copied them out fair, and
here they are for the reader that loves him.
Twilight is near, and the day grows old;
The spiders of care are weaving their net;
All night 'twill be blowing and rainy and cold;
I cower at his door from the wind and wet.
He sent me out the world to see,
Drest for the road in a garment new;
It is clotted with clay, and worn beggarly--
The porter will hardly let me through!
I bring in my hand a few dusty ears--
Once I thought them a tribute meet!
I bring in my heart a few unshed tears:
Which is my harvest--the pain or the wheat?
A broken man, at the door of his hall
I listen, and hear it go merry within;
The sounds are of birthday-festival!
Hark to the trumpet! the violin!
I know the bench where the shadowed folk
Sit 'neath the music-loft--there none upbraids!
They will make me room who bear the same yoke,
Dear publicans, sinners, and foolish maids!
An ear has been hearing my heart forlorn!
A step comes soft through the dancing-din!
Oh Love eternal! oh woman-born!
Son of my Father to take me in!
One moment, low at our Father's feet
Loving I lie in a self-lost trance;
Then walk away to the sinners' seat,
With them, at midnight, to rise and dance!
THE END
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 1: In Scotch the ch and gh are almost always guttural. The gh according
to Mr. Alexander Ellis, the sole authority in the past pronunciation of
the country, was guttural in England in the time of Shakspere.]
[Footnote 2: An exclamation of pitiful sympathy, inexplicable to the understanding.
Thus the author covers his philological ignorance of the cross-breeding
of the phrase.]
[Footnote 3: Extra--over all--ower a'--orra--one more than is wanted.]
[Footnote 4: Tennyson's Morte d'Arthur. Atque animum nunc huc celerem, nunc dividit
illuc. Æneid: IV. 285]
[Footnote 5: This line is one of many instances in which my reader will see both
the carelessness of Ericson and my religion towards his remains.]
[Footnote 6: Why should Sir Walter Scott, who felt the death of Camp, his
bullterrier, so much that he declined a dinner engagement in
consequence, say on the death of his next favourite, a grayhound
bitch--'Rest her body, since I dare not say soul!'? Where did he
get that dare not? Is it well that the daring of genius should be
circumscribed by an unbelief so common-place as to be capable only of
subscription?]
[Footnote 7: Amongst Ericson's papers I find the following sonnets, which belong to
the mood here embodied:
Oft, as I rest in quiet peace, am I
Thrust out at sudden doors, and madly driven
Through desert solitudes, and thunder-riven
Black passages which have not any sky.
The scourge is on me now, with all the cry
Of ancient life that hath with murder striven.
How many an anguish hath gone up to heaven!
How many a hand in prayer been lifted high
When the black fate came onward with the rush
Of whirlwind, avalanche, or fiery spume!
Even at my feet is cleft a shivering tomb
Beneath the waves; or else with solemn hush
The graveyard opens, and I feel a crush
As if we were all huddled in one doom.
Comes there, O Earth, no breathing time for thee?
No pause upon thy many-chequered lands?
Now resting on my bed with listless hands,
I mourn thee resting not. Continually
Hear I the plashing borders of the sea
Answer each other from the rocks and sands.
Troop all the rivers seawards; nothing stands,
But with strange noises hasteth terribly.
Loam-eared hyenas go a moaning by.
Howls to each other all the bloody crew
Of Afric's tigers. But, O men, from you
Comes this perpetual sound more loud and high
Than aught that vexes air. I hear the cry
Of infant generations rising too.]
[Footnote 8: This sonnet and the preceding are both one line deficient.]
[Footnote 9: To these two sonnets Falconer had appended this note:
'Something I wrote to Ericson concerning these, during my first college
vacation, produced a reply of which the following is a passage: “On
writing the first I was not aware that James and John were the Sons
of Thunder. For a time it did indeed grieve me to think of the
spiritual-minded John as otherwise than a still and passionless lover of
Christ.”']
Note from John Bechard, creator of this Electronic text.
The following is a list of Scottish words which are found in George
MacDonald's “Robert Falconer”. I have compiled this list myself and
worked out the definitions from context with the help of Margaret West,
from Leven in Fife, Scotland, and also by referring to a word list
found in a collection of poems by Robert Burns, “Chamber's Scots
Dialect Dictionary from the 17th century to the Present” c. 1911 and
“Scots-English English-Scots Dictionary” Lomond Books c. 1998. I have
tried to be as thorough as possible given the limited resources and
welcome any feedback on this list which may be wrong (my e-mail address
is JaBBechard@aol.com). This was never meant to be a comprehensive list
of the National Scottish Language, but rather an aid to understanding
some of the conversations and references in this text in the Broad
Scots. I do apologise for any mistakes or omissions. I aimed for my list
to be very comprehensive, and it often repeats the same word in a plural
or diminutive form. As well, it includes words that are quite obvious to
native English speakers, only spelled in such a way to demonstrate the
regional pronunciation.
This list is a compressed form that consists of three columns for
'word', 'definition', and 'additional notes'. It is set up with a comma
between each item and a hard return at the end of each definition. This
means that this section could easily be cut and pasted into its own text
file and imported into a database or spreadsheet as a comma separated
variable file (.csv file). Failing that, you could do a search and
replace for commas in this section (I have not used any commas in my
words, definitions or notes) and replace the commas with spaces or tabs.
Glossary:
Word,Definition,Notes
a',all; every,also have
a' gait,everywhere,
a' thing,everything; anything,
abeelity,ability,
abettin',abetting,
a'body,everyone; everybody,
aboon,above; up; over,
aboord,aboard,
aboot,about,
aboot it an' aboot it,all about,
abune,above; up; over,
accep's,accepts,
accoont,account,
accoonts,accounts,
accordin',according,
acquant,acquainted,
a'-creatin',all-creating,
ae,one,
aff,off; away; past; beyond,
aff-gang,outlet,
afflickit,afflicted,
affoord,afford,
affront,affront; disgrace; shame,
affrontet,affronted; disgraced,also ashamed; shamed
afit,afoot; on foot,
afore,before; in front of,
aforehan',beforehand,
aften,often,
aftener,more often,
agen,against,
aheid,ahead,
ahin',behind; after; at the back of,
ahint,behind; after; at the back of,
aiblins,perhaps; possibly,
aidin',aiding,
ailin',ailing; sick,
ain,own,also one
airin',airing,
airm,arm,
airm-cheir,armchair,
airms,arms,also coat of arms; crest
airmy,army,
airth,earth,
aise,ashes,
ait,eat,
aither,either,
aiths,oaths,
aitin',eating,
aits,oats,
alane,alone,
alang,along,
Algerine,Algerian,
alloo,allow,
allooed,allowed,
Almichty,Almighty; God,
amaist,almost,
amang,among; in; together with,
amen's,amends,
amo',among,
amuntit,amounted,
an',and,
ance,once,
ane,one,also a single person or thing
aneath,beneath; under,
anent,opposite to; in front of,also concerning
Anerew,Andrew,
anes,ones,
angert,angered; angry,also grieved
anither,another,
answerin',answering,
answert,answered,
a'ready,already,
aricht,aright,
aside,beside,also aside
aspirin',aspiring,
astarn,astern,
'at,that,
ate,hate,also eat
a'thegither,all together,
a'thing,everything; anything,
'at's,that is; that has,
attreebuted,attributed,
atweel,indeed; truely; of course,
atween,between,
aucht,eight; eighth,also ought; own; possess
aul',old,
auld,old,
aulder,older,
aumrie,cupboard; pantry; store-closet,
aumry,cupboard; pantry; store-closet,
a'-uphaudin',all-upholding; all-supporting,
ava,at all; of all,exclamation of banter; ridicule
awa,away; distant,also off; go away
awa',away; distant,also off; go away
awaur,aware,
Awbrahawm,Abraham,
aweel,ah well; well then; well,
awfu',awful,
awpron,apron,
ay,yes; indeed,exclamation of surprise; wonder
aye,yes; indeed,
ayont,beyond; after,
bade,did bide,
badena,did not bide,
bagonet,bayonet,
bailey,civic dignitary; magistrate,
bairn,child,
bairnie,little child,diminutive
bairns,children,
baith,both,
bakehoose,bakery,
baneless,insipid; without pith,
banes,bones,
barfut,barefoot,
barrin',barring,
barrowfu',wheelbarrow full,
baubee,halfpenny,
baubees,halfpennies,
bauchles,old pair of shoes,also shoes down at the heel
baukie,bat,
beggit,begged,
beginnin',beginning,
begud,began,
behaud,withhold; wait; delay,also behold
behavin',behaving,
bein',being,
beir,bear,
beirer,bearer,
beirs,bears,
bejan,first year's student,at a Scottish university
belangs,belongs,
believin',believing,
ben' leather,thick leather for soling boots/shoes,
bena,be not; is not,
bend-leather,thick leather for soling boots/shoes,
benn,in; inside; into; within; inwards,also inner room
benn the hoose,in/into the parlour,best room of the house
beowty,beauty,
beuks,books,
beyon',beyond,
bide,endure; bear; remain; live,also desire; wish
bides,endures; bears; remains; lives,also stays for
biggit,built,
bilin',boiling,also the whole quantity
bin',bind,
binna,be not,
birse,bristle; hair; plume of hair,
bit,but; bit,also small; little--diminutive
bitch,,term of contempt usually applied to a man
bitin',biting,
bittie,little bit,diminutive
bittock,a little bit; a short distance,
blaeberries,blueberries,
blastit,blasted,
blate,over-modest; bashful; shy,
blaud,spoil; injure; soil,
blaudit,spoiled; injured; soiled,
blaw,blow,
blecks,nonplusses; perplexes; beats,
blessin',blessing,
blether,talk nonsense; babble; boast,
bletherin',talking nonsense; babbling; boasting,
blethers,talks nonsense; babbles; boasts,nonsense; foolish talk
blin',blind,
blink,take a hasty glance; ogle,also shine; gleam; twinkle; glimmer
blinner,blinder,
blude,blood,
bluidy,bloody,
boasom,bosom,
boatles,bottles,
boddom,bottom,
body,person; fellow,also body
boglet,bamboozled; terrified,
bonnet,man's cap,
bonnetfu',bonnetful; capful,
bonnets,man's caps,
bonnie,good; beautiful; pretty; handsome,
bonniest,best; most beautiful; prettiest,also considerable
bonny,good; beautiful; pretty; handsome,
boodie,ghost; hobgoblin,
booin',bowing,
bools,marbles,
boon',bound,
boord,board (i.e. room and board),
bothie,cottage in common for farm-servants,
boucht,bought,
bourach,heap; cluster; mound,
bowat,stable-lantern,
bowie,small barrel or cask,
boxie,little box,diminutive
brae,hill; hillside; high ground by a river,
braid,broad; having a strong accent,
brak,break,
brakfast,breakfast,
brat,child,term of contempt
braw,beautiful; good; fine,also lovely (girl); handsome (boy)
brawly,admirably; very; very much; well,
breedth,breadth,
breeks,breeches; trousers,
breid,bread,
breist,breast,
breists,breasts,
breith,breath,
breme-bush,broom-bush,also simpleton
brewin',brewing,
brig,bridge,
brither,brother,
brithers,brothers; fellows,
brithren,brethren; brothers,
brocht,brought,
broo,brow; eyebrow,
broucht,brought,
browst,brewage; booze,also the consequences of one's own acts
bruik,broke,
brunt,burned,
bude,would prefer to; behoved,also must; had to
budena,must not; could not; might not,
buff,nonsense,
buik,book,also Bible
buiks,books,
bund,bound,
burd alane,quite alone,also the only surviving child of a family
burn,water; stream; brook,
burnin',burning,
burnside,along the side of a stream,
buss,bush; shrub; thicket,
butes,boots,
butt,main room in a croft; outside,includes kitchen and storage
butt the hoose,into the house; into the kitchen,
by ordinar,out of the ordinary; supernatural,also unusual
by ordinar',out of the ordinary; supernatural,also unusual
by-ordinar,out of the ordinary; supernatural,also unusual
byous,exceedingly; extraordinary; very,
ca,drive; impel; hammer,
ca',call; name,
ca'd,called,
cadger,carrier; pedlar,
ca'in',calling,
cairds,cards,
cairriage,carriage,
cairriet,carried,
cairry,carry,
cairryin',carrying,
calfie,little calf,diminutive
callant,stripling; lad,term of affection
cam,came,
cam',came,
camna,did not come,
camstairie,unmanageable; wild; obstinate,
camstairy,unmanageable; wild; obstinate,
camstary,unmanageable; wild; obstinate,
can'le,candle,
canna,cannot,also cotton-grass
canny,cautious; prudent; shrewd; artful,
cap,wooden cup or bowl,
capt'n,captain,
carena,do not care,
carldoddies,stalks of rib-grass,also term of endearment
carritchis,catechism,
ca's,calls,
cast up,taunt; reproach,
catchin',catching,
cattle,lice; fleas,used contemptuously of persons
cauld,cold,
caure,calves,
'cause,because,
caw,drive; impel; hammer,
cawed,driven; impeled; hammered,
cawin',driving; impeling; hammering,
ceevil,civil,
'cep',except; but,
chackit,checkered,
chairge,charge,
chap,knock; hammer; strike; rap,
chappit,knocked; hammered; struck; rapped,
chaps,knocks; hammers; strikes; raps,
chaumer,chamber; room; bedroom,
cheep,chirp; creak; hint; word,
cheerman,chairman,
chessel,tub for pressing cheese,
chice,choice,
chiel',child; young person; fellow,term of fondness or intimacy
chield,child; young person; fellow,term of fondness or intimacy
chimla-lug,fireside,
chits,sweetbreads,
chop,shop; store,
circumspec',circumspect,
claes,clothes; dress,
claikin',clucking (like a hen),also talk much in a trivial way
claith,cloth,
clams,vice or pincers,used by saddlers and shoemakers
clap,press down; pat; fondle,
clashes,blows; slaps; messes,also gossip; tittle-tattle
clash-pyet,tell-tale; scandal-monger,
clean,altogether; entirely,also comely; shapely; empty; clean
cleant,cleaned,
clear-e'ed,clear-eyed,
cleed,clothe; shelter,
cleedin',clothing; sheltering,
cleuks,claws; hands; paws,
clo'en,cloven,
clomb,climbed,
clood,cloud,
cloods,clouds,
cloody,cloudy,
close,narrow alley; blind alley,also enclosed land
closin',closing,
clype,tell tales; gossip,
coaties,children's coats; petticoats,
coaton,cotton,
coats,petticoats,
coch,coach,
coches,coaches,
coff,buy,
colliginer,college student,also college boy
Come yer wa's butt.,Come on in.,
comin',coming,
comman'ment,commandment,
compleen,complain,
con thanks,return thanks,
considerin',considering,
contradickit,contradicted,
contrairy,contrary,
contred,contradicted; thwarted; crossed,
convence,convince,
conversin',conversing,
convertit,converted,
coorse,coarse,also course
coort,court,
corbie,crow; raven,
cornel,colonel,
correck,correct,
cottar,farm tenant; cottager,
cottars,farm tenants; cottagers,
cottar-wark,stipulated work done by the cottager,
couldna,could not,
coupit,tilted; tumbled; drank off,
couples,rafters,
crackin',cracking,
cracklin',crackling,
crap o' the wa',natural shelf between wall and roof,
crappit,topped; cropped; lopped,
crappit heids,stuffed head of cod or haddock,
crater,creature,
cratur,creature,
craturs,creatures,
cried,called; summoned,
crookit,crooked,
croon,crown,
croudin',cooing; croaking; groaning,
Cry Moany,Cremona,make of violin
cryin',calling; summoning,
cryin' doon,decrying; depreciating,
cud,could,
cudna,could not,
culd,could,
cumber,encumbrance; inconvenience,
cunnin',cunning,
curst,cursed,
cuttin',cutting,
cutty pipe,short tobacco-pipe,
cwytes,petticoats,
dacent,decent,
dame,young unmarried woman; damsel,also farmer's wife
damnin',damning; condemning,
dancin',dancing,
dang,knock; bang; drive,also damn
darnin',darning,
dauchter,daughter,
daunerin',strolling; sauntering; ambling,
daur,dare; challenge,
daured,dared; challenged,
daurna,dare not; do not dare,
daursay,dare say,
dauty,darling; pet,term of endearment
dawtie,darling; pet,term of endearment
daylicht,daylight,
debosh,excessive indulgence; debauch,also extravagance; waste
deboshed,debauched; worthless,
deceitfu',deceitful,
deceivin',deceiving,
dee,do,also die
deed,died,also deed; indeed
'deed,indeed,
dee'd,died,
deein',doing,also dying
deevil,devil,
deevil-ma'-care,devil-may-care; utterly careless,also no matter
deevilry,devilry,
deevils,devils,
deid,dead,
deif,deaf,
deil,devil,also not
de'il,devil,also not
De'il a bit!,Not at all! Not a bit!,
deith,death,
deleeberately,deliberately,
dementit,demented; mad; crazy,
denner,dinner,
desertit,deserted,
desperate,exceedingly; beyond measure,also irreclaimable; very bad
didna,did not,
differ,difference; dissent,also differ
dingin',overcoming; wearying; vexing,also raining/snowing heavily
dinna,do not,
direckly,directly; immediately,
dirt,worthless persons or things,term of contempt
dishcloot,cloth for washing dishes,
disna,does not,
disoun,disown,
distinckly,distinctly,
div,do,
divots,thin flat pieces of sod,
dochter,daughter,
doesna,does not,
doin',doing,
doin's,doings,
doited,foolish; stupefied; crazy,
dominie,minister; schoolmaster,slightly contemptuous
dooble,double; duplicate,also double dealing; devious
dooble-sole,double-sole,
doobt,suspect; know; doubt,have an unpleasant conviction
doobtin',suspecting; knowing,also doubting
doobtless,doubtless,
doobts,suspects; knows,also doubts
dooce,gentle; sensible; sober; prudent,
dooms,extremely; exceedingly; very,
doon,down,
doonricht,downright,
door-cheek,door-post; threshold; doorway,
door-stane,flagstone at the threshold of a door,
dother,daughter,
dottled,crazy; in dotage,
douce,gentle; sensible; sober; prudent,
dowie,sad; lonely; depressing; dismal,also ailing
draigon,dragon; also boy's paper kite,reference to Revelation 12-13
draigons,dragons,also boys' paper kites
dram,glass of whisky,
drap,drop; small quantity of,
drap i' the hoose,presence of someone unknown,
drappit,dropped,
drappy,little drop; a little (liquor),diminutive
drauchts,plans; schemes; policies,also lineaments of the face
drave,drove,
drawin',drawing,
dreadfu',dreadful,
dreamin',dreaming,
drear,dreary; dreariness; tedium,
dreidfu',dreadful; dreadfully,
drift,snow driven by the wind,
driftin',drifting,snow driven by the wind
drinkin',drinking,
drivin',driving,
droont,drowned,
drucken,drunken; tipsy,
drum-heid,drum head,
drunken,drank; drunk,
du,do,
duin',doing,
dumfoundered,perplexed; stunned; amazed,
dune,done,
dunna,do not,
duv,do,
duvna,do not,
dwalls,dwells,
d'ye,do you,
dyke,wall of stone or turf,
eaves-drapper,eavesdropper,
Ebberdeen,Aberdeen,
ee,eye,
een,eyes,
e'en,even; just; simply; equal,also eyes; evening
efter,after; afterwards,
efterhin,after; afterwards,
efternune,afternoon,
eident,industrious; diligent; steady,
elbuck,elbow,
eleckit,elected,chosen by God for salvation (Calvinism)
ellwand,ell-wand; ruler; yardstick,1 ell = 37 inches or 94 cm
en',end,
endit,ended,
eneuch,enough,
Englan',England,
enjoyin',enjoying,
eppiteet,appetite,
er,ere; before,
er',ere; before,
Erse,Irish; Gaelic,
etairnity,eternity,
ewie,young ewe,
exackly,exactly,
excep',except,
expairience,experience,
expeckin',expecting,
expecs,expects,
eyther,either,
fa',fall; befall,
fac',fact; truth; reality,
fac's,facts; truths; realities,
factor,manager of a landed property,lets farms; collects rents
fact'ry,factory,
faddom,fathom,
fa'en,fallen,
failin',failing,
faimilies,families,
faimily,family,
fain,eager; anxious; fond,also fondly; gladly
fa'in',falling,
fairmy,little farm,diminutive
Faith!,Indeed!; Truly!,exclamation
fallow,fellow; chap,
fan',found,also felt
fand,found,
farrer,farther,
fash,trouble; inconvenience; vex,
faun't,found,
faured,favoured; featured,
faut,fault; blame,
fau'ts,faults,
feared,afraid; frightened; scared,
fearfu',fearful; easily frightened,
fearsome,terrifying; fearful; awful,
feart,afraid; frightened; scared,
feelin',feeling,
fegs!,truly!; really!; goodness!,mild oath; exclamation of surprise
feifteen,fifteen,
fell,very; potent; keen; harsh; sharp,intensifies; also turf
feow,few,
ferlie,wonder; novelty; curiosity,
fess,fetch; bring,
fest,fast,
festen,fasten; bind,
fiddlin',fiddling,
fin',find,also feel
fir-can'le,a torch; 'firwood' used as a candle,
fishin',fishing,
fit,foot; base,also fit; capable; able
flax,flax; wick,
flech,flea,
fleys,terrifies; frightens,
fleyt,terrified; frightened,
flingin',kicking; throwing,
flittin',shifting; removing; departing,
flooers,flowers,
flure,floor,
flurin',flooring,
forby,as well; as well as; besides,also over and above
forbye,as well; as well as; besides,also over and above
foresicht,foresight,
foret,forward,
forgather,assemble; encounter,also meet for a special purpose
forgathert,assembled; encountered,also met for a special purpose
forgettin',forgetting,
forgie,forgive,
forgien,forgiven,
fortnicht,fortnight; two weeks,
fou,full; well-fed,
fouchten,fought,
fower-hoors,four o'clock tea,
fowk,folk,
frae,from,
freely,quite; very; thoroughly,
freits,superstitions; charms,also superstitious fancies
fremt,stranger,also strange; foreign
fren',friend,
fricht,frighten; scare away,also fright
frichtit,frightened; scared away,
frichtsome,frightful,
frien',friend,
frien's,friends,
frien'ship,friendship,
fu',full; very; much,
fule,fool,
fummles,fumbles,
fun',found,
fun-buss,whin-bush,
fund,found,
furbye,as well; as well as; besides,also over and above
fushionless,pithless; tasteless; feeble,
fut,foot,
gae,gave,
gaed,went,
gaein',going,
gae's,gave us; gave his,
gaird,guard; watch,
gait,way; fashion,also route; street
gaither,gather,
ga'le,gable,
gane,gone,
gang,go; goes; depart; walk,
gang yer wa's,go on,
gangs,goes; walks,
gar,cause; make; compel,
garred,made; caused; compelled,
garrin',making; causing; compelling,
gars,makes; causes; compels,
gart,made; caused; compelled,
gar't,make it; cause it; compel it,
gate,way; route,also method; fashion; habit
gatherin',gathering,
gaun,going,
'gen,by; in time for; whether,
German Ocean,,old reference to the English Channel & North Sea
gether,gather,
gettin',getting,
gey,fairly; considerably,also considerable
gi',give,
gie,give,
gie a lift,give a helping hand,
gied,gave,
giein',giving,
gien,if; as if; then; whether,also given
gi'en,given,
giena,do not give,
gies,gives,
gie's,gives; give us; give his,
gill,tipple; drink,
gin,if; as if; then; whether,
gird,hoop for a barrel or tub,
girn,grimace; snarl; twist the features,
glaid,glad,
glaidly,gladly,
glaiss,glass,
gleds,kites; buzzards,
gleg,quick; lively; smart; quick-witted,
Glendronach,particular brand of whisky,
glimmerin',glimmering,
gloamin',twilight; dusk,
gloggie,insipid; artificial; unnatural,
glowered,stared; gazed; scowled,
goin',going,
goon,gown,
goul,howl; yell; whine,
gowd,gold,
gowk,cuckoo; fool; blockhead,
gran',grand; capital; first-rate,
grandmither,grandmother,
gran'father,grandfather,
gran'mither,grandmother,
grat,cried; wept,
gravestane,gravestone; tombstone; headstone,
greet,cry; weep,
greetin',crying; weeping,
greit,cry; weep,
greitin',crying; weeping,
greits,cries; weeps,
grew,greyhound,
grip,grasp; understand,also hold
grips,grasps; understands,seizures; colic
growin',growing,
grun',ground,
grup,grip; grasp,
grups,grips; grasp,
grutten,cried; wept,
gude,good,also God
gude-bye,goodbye,
gude-hertit,good-hearted,
gudeness,goodness,
guid,good,also God
guide,treat; handle; look after; save; keep,
Guidsake!,For God's sake!,
ha',have,also hall; house
haddie,haddock,
hadna,had not,
hae,have; has,also here
ha'e,have,also here
haein',having,
haena,have not,
hae't,have it,
haill,whole,
hairm,harm,
hairps,harps,
hairst,harvest,
hairst-play,school holidays during harvest,
Haith!,Faith!,exclamation of surprise
haithen,heathen,
haiven,heaven,
halesome,wholesome; pure,
half-dizzen,half-dozen,
half-stervit,half-starved,
hame,home,
han',hand,
han'fu',handful,
hangin',hanging,
hangt,hanged,
hang't,hanged,
han'le,handle,
han'led,handled; treated,
han'let,handled,
han's,hands,
hantle,much; large quantity; far,
hard,heard,also hard
hash,mess; muddle,
hasna,does not have,
haud,hold; keep,
hauden,held; kept,
haudin',holding; keeping,
hauld,hold,
haveless,careless (therefore helpless),also wasteful; incompetent
haven,heaven,
haverin',talking incoherently; babbling,
havers,nonsense; foolish talk; babble,
hay-sow,long oblong stack of hay,shaped like a sow
he that will to Cupar maun to Cupar,a wilful man must have his way,
heap,very much,also heap
heardna,did not hear,
hearin',hearing,
hearken,hearken; hear; listen,
hearkened,hearkened; heard; listened,
hearkenin',hearkening; listening,
hearkent,hearkened; heard; listened,
Hecklebirnie,Hell,
hecklet,cross-questioned; examined,
hed,had,also hid
heepocreet,hypocrite,
heicht,height,
heid,head; heading,
heids,heads; headings,
helpin',helping,
helpit,helped,
her lane,on her own,
hersel',herself,
hert,heart,
hertily,heartily,
herts,hearts,
het,hot; burning,
hev,have,
Hielan',Highland,
Hielan'man,Highland man,
hillo,,a call to attract attention
him lane,on his own,
himsel',himself,
hinder,hinder; hind; latter,
hine,away; afar; to a distance,
hing,hang,
hingin',hanging,
hings,hangs,
hinnerance,hinderance,
hinney,honey,
hintit,hinted,
hips,borders of a district,
hiz,us,emphatic
hizzies,hussies; silly girls,
hoo,how,
hooever,however,
hooly,slowly; cautiously; gently,also 'take your time'
hoomble,humble,
hoombly,humbly,
hoor,hour,
hoo's,how is,
hoose,house,
hooses,houses,
hoot,pshaw,exclamation of doubt or contempt
Hoot awa!,tuts!; nonsense!,also exclamation of sympathy
hoot toot,tut!,exclamation of annoyance
hoots,pshaw,exclamation of doubt or contempt
horse-huves,horse hooves,
hose,stocking,
hostit,coughed,
houp,hope,
houpe,hope,
houps,hopes,
humblet,humbled,
hunger,hunger; starve,
hungert,starved,
hunner,hundred,
huntin',hunting,
hurdies,buttocks,
hurry an' a scurry,uproar; tumult,
hurtit,hurt,
huves,hooves,
hynd,straight; by the nearest road,
i',in; into,
I doobt,I know; I suspect,
I wat,I know; I assure (you),
ilk,every; each,also common; ordinary
ilka,every; each,also common; ordinary
ilkabody,everybody; everyone,
ill,bad; evil; hard; harsh; badly,also misfortune; harm
'ill,will,
ill-contrived,tricky; mischievous,also badly behaved; ill-tempered
ill-doin',badly behaved,also leading an evil life
ill-fashioned,vulgar in habits; ill-mannered,also quarrelsome
ill-faured,unbecoming; ill-mannered; clumsy,also unpleasant
ill-mainnert,ill-mannered,
ill-tongued,foul-tongued; abusive,
ill-used,used wrongly,
ill-willy,ill-tempered; spiteful; grudging,also reluctant
'im,him,
impidence,impudence,
imputin',imputing,
inheritin',inheriting,
in't,in it,
interesstin',interesting,
interferin',interfering,
interruppit,interrupted,
intil,into; in; within,
ir,are,
Ishmeleets,Ishmaelites,
isna,is not; is no,
is't,is it,
ither,other; another; further,
'ither,other; another; further,
itsel',itself,
iver,ever,
jabberin',chattering; idle talking,
jaloosed,suspected; guessed; imagined,
jaud,lass; girl; worthless woman,old worn-out horse
jaw,billow; splash; surge; wave,
jawin',talking; chattering,
Jeames,James,
Jeck,Jack,
jeedgment,judgement,
Jeroozlem,Jerusalem,
jined,joined,
jines,joins,
jist,just,
judgin',judging,
jumps,tallies; coincides,
justifee,justify,
justifeein',justifying,
jyler,jailer,
kailyard,kitchen garden; small cottage garden,
keek,look; peep; spy,
keekin',looking; peeping; prying,
keepit,kept,
kelpie,water-sprite; river-horse,
ken,know; be acquainted with; recognise,
kenna,do not know,
kennin',knowing,
kens,knows,
kent,known; knew,
kep,keep; catch,also intercept; encounter
kickin',kicking,
kickit,kicked,
kin',kind; nature; sort; agreeable,also somewhat; in some degree
kin'ness,kindness,
kirk,church,
kirks,churches,
kirkyaird,churchyard,
kirstened,christened,
kirstenin',christening,
kissin',kissing,
kist,chest; coffer; box; chest of drawers,
kists,chests; coffers; boxes; luggage,
kitchie,kitchen,
kittlins,kittens,
kneipit,knocked,
lad,boy,term of commendation or reverence
laddie,boy,term of affection
laddies,boys,term of affection
lads,boys,term of commendation or reverence
laicher,lower,
laird,landed proprietor; squire; lord,
lameter,cripple,also lame
lammie,little lamb,term of endearment
lan',land; country; ground,
lane,lone; alone; lonely; solitary,
lang,long; big; large; many,also slow; tedious
langed,longed,
langer,longer,
lang-leggit,long legged,
lang's,long as,
lang-tailed,tedious,
lan'less,landless,
lap,leaped,
lapstane,stone on which a shoemaker,hammers his leather
lass,girl; young woman,term of address
lasses,girls; young women,
lassie,girl,term of endearment
lat,let; allow,
lat's,let's; let us; let his,
latten,let; allowed,
lattin',letting; allowing,
lauch,laugh,
lauchin',laughing,
lauchter,laughter,
lave,rest; remainder; others,also leave
laverock,lark (type of bird),
Lawlands,Lowlands,
lea,leave,
lea',leave,
leadin',leading,
leal,loyal; faithful; sincere; true,
learnin',learning,also teaching
learnt,learned,also taught
leavin',leaving,
leddy,lady,also boy; lad; laddy
lee,pasture; fallow ground,also shelter from wind or rain; lie
leear,lier,
leebrary,library,
leed,lied; told lies,
leein',lying; telling lies,
lees,lies,
leevin',living; living being,
leiser,leisure,
len',lend; give; grant,also loan
len'th,length,
leuch,laughed,
leuk,look; watch; appearance,
leys,grasslands,
licht,light,
lichtlie,make light of; disparage,
lickin',thrashing; punishment,
lien,lain,
lift,load; boost; lift; helping hand,also sky; heavens
liket,liked,
likit,liked,
likliheid,likelyhood,
likly,likely,
limmer,rascal; rogue,also loose woman; prostitute
lingel,shoemaker's thread,
links,stretch of sandy grass-covered ground,near the seashore
lint-bells,flowers of the flax,
lippen,trust; depend on,also look after
list,enlist as a soldier,
livin',living,
'll,will,
lockit,locked,
longin',longing,
Lonnon,London,
loon,rascal; rogue; ragamuffin,also boy; lad
loot,let; allowed; permitted,
Losh!,corrupt form of 'Lord',exclamation of surprise or wonder
losin',losing,
loup,leap; jump; spring,
loup-coonter lads,shopkeepers; salesmen,
loupin',leaping; jumping; springing,
loupin'-on-stane,horse-block,
lowse,loose; free,also dishonest; immoral
luckie-daddie,grandfather,also fondly regarded forefather
luckie-daiddie,grandfather,also fondly regarded forefather
luckie-minnie,grandmother,
lucky,old woman,
lucky-daiddy,grandfather,also fondly regarded forefather
lug,ear; fin (fish); handle,also shallow wooden dish
lugs,ears,
luik,look,
luikin',looking,
luikit,looked,
luiks,looks,
luve,love,
lyin',lying,
lythe,shelter,
'm,him,
ma,my,
magistrand,student about to become M.A.,at Aberdeen University
maijesty,majesty,
mainner,manner,
mainners,manners,
mair,more; greater,
mairch,march,
mairry,marry,
maist,most; almost,
'maist,almost,
maist han',almost,
maister,master; mister,
maistly,mostly; most of all,
maitter,matter,
maitters,matters,
mak,make; do,
mak',make; do,
makin',making; doing,
maks,makes; does,
mak's,makes; does,
man-body,full grown man,
Markis,Marquis,
maukin,hare,also a reference to a poem by Burns
maun,must; have to,
maunna,must not; may not,
mayna,may not,
meanin',meaning,
meddlin',meddling,
meenit,minute,
meenits,minutes,
meenute,minute,
meesery,misery,
mell,mix; be intimate; meddle,
mem,Ma'am; Miss; Madam,
men',mend,
men'in',mending; healing,
men't,mended,
merchan's,merchants; shopkeepers,
mercifu',merciful; favourable,
mere,mare,also mere
merried,married,
merry,marry,also merry
micht,might,
michtna,might not,
michty,mighty; God,
midden,dunghill; manure pile,
middlin',tolerable; mediocre; fairly well,
mids,midst; middle,
mids',midst; middle,
min',mind; recollection,also recollect; remember
min' upo',remember,
mind,mind; recollection,also recollect; remember
ministert,ministered,
minit,minute,
mint,insinuate; hint; feign,also aim at; attempt
mintin',insinuating; hinting; feigning,also aiming at; attempting
mintit,insinuated; hinted; feigned,also aimed at; attempted
mirk,darkness; gloom; night,
mischeef,mischief; injury; harm,
misdoobt,doubt; disbelieve; suspect,
missionar',missionary,
mistak,mistake,
mither,mother,
mithers,mothers,
mizzer,measure,
moedesty,modesty,
mony,many,
moo',mouth,
moose,mouse,
mornin',morning,
morn's,tomorrow,
mou',mouth,
moufu',mouthful,
mou'fu',mouthful,
mould,mould; loose earth; top soil,
muckle,huge; enormous; big; great; much,
muckler,bigger; greater,
mull,snuff-box,
mune,moon,
munelicht,moonlight,
murnin',mourning,
mutch,woman's cap with protruding frill,worn under the bonnet
mutchkin,liquid measure,equal to an English pint
my lane,on my own,
mysel',myself,
na,not; by no means,
nae,no; none; not,
naebody,nobody; no one,
naething,nothing,
nane,none,
nanetheless,nonetheless,
nater,nature,
nat'ral,natural,
natur',nature,
naything,nothing,
nearhan',nearly; almost; near by,
near-han',nearly; almost; near by,
nears,kidneys,
nebs,tips; points; nibs; beaks,
neebor,neighbour,
neebors,neighbours,
neebour,neighbour,
needfu',needful; necessary; needy,
needna,do not need; need not,
ne'er-do-weel,an incorrigible; troublemaker,
neist,next; nearest,
nesty,nasty,
neuk,nook; recess; interior angle,also corner
news,talk; gossip,
nicht,night; evening,
niffer,exchange; barter,
no,not,
no',not,
noething,nothing,
noo,now,
noo',now,
noo a-days,now; in these days,
nor,than; although; if,also nor
nor's,than is,
notwithstandin',notwithstanding,
nuik,corner,
o',of; on,
objeck,object,
obleeged,obliged,
och,,exclamation of sorrow or regret
och hone,alas,
Od,disguised form of 'God',mince oath
odds,consequence; change,
o'er,over; upon; too,
ohn,without; un-,uses past participle not present progressive
Ohone!,Alas!,
on',and,possibly a mispelling--should be an'
onlike,unlike,
onsays,unsays,
ony,any,
onybody,anybody; anyone,
onything,anything,
ook,week,
ooks,weeks,
oor,our,
'oor,hour,
oors,ours,
oorsel's,ourselves,
oot,out,
ootcast,outcast,
oots,outs,
ootside,outside,
opingon,opinion,
opingons,opinions,
opposit,opposite,
or,before; ere; until; by,also or
ordinar,ordinary; usual; natural,also custom; habit
ordinar',ordinary; usual; natural,also custom; habit
orra,odd job (man); exceptional; over all,also idle
o't,of it,
oucht,anything; all,also ought
ouchtna,ought not,
oursel's,ourselves,
ow,oh,exclamation of surprise
ower,over; upon; too,
owerta'en,overtaken,
oye,grandchild; grandson; nephew,
pailace,palace,
paintit,painted,
pairt,part,
pandies,strokes on the palm with a cane,
papistry,Romanism; Popery,
Paradees,Paradise,
parritch,oatmeal porridge,
partic'lar,particular,
pat,put; made,
peacefu',peaceful,
pecks,blows; strikes,
pernickety,precise; particular; fastidious,also difficult to please
perris,parish,
piana,piano,
picter,picture; sight; spectacle,
pictur',picture,
piece,slice of bread; lunch,
pint,point,
pipit,piped; played the (bag)pipes,
pirn,reel; bobbin,on which thread is wound
pit,put; make,
pitawta,potato,
pits,puts; makes,
pitten,put; made,
plack,the smallest coin,worth 1/3 of a penny
plaguit,plagued; troubled,
plaid,plaid used as a blanket,
plaistered,plastered,
plash-mill,fulling-mill,
playacks,playthings; toys,
play-actin',acting,
playin',playing,
playt,played,
pliskie,trick; prank; practical joke,
plisky,trick; prank,
ploy,amusement; sport; escapade,
ploys,amusements; sports; escapades,
poassible,possible,
poddock,frog,
pooch,pocket; pouch,
pooer,power,
pooerfu',powerful,
poored,poured,
poothers,powders,
pop',pope,
porkmanty,portmanteau,
positeeve,positive,
pouch,pouch; pocket,
poun',pound (sterling),
prayin',praying,
preachin',preaching,
pree,taste; try; prove; experience,
prent,print,
prentice-han',novice,
press,wall-cupboard with shelves,
preten',pretend,
preten't,pretended,
prood,proud,
pruv,prove,
pruved,proved,
pu',pull,
public,public house; pub,
public-hoose,public house,
pu'd,pulled,
puddin's,intestines,
puir,poor,
pun',pound (sterling),
putten,put,
quaiet,quiet,
quaiet sough,quiet tongue,
quaieter,quieter,
quaietly,quietly,
quaietness,quietness,
quean,queen; young girl; hussy,
queston,question,also sum
questons,questions,also sums
quest'ons,questions,
quibblin',quibbling,
rade,rode,
rael,real,
railly,really,
raither,rather,
rale,real; true; very,
rampaugin',rampaging,
randy,rough; wild; riotous,also coarse-tongued; abusive
rase,rose,
rash,needle used in weaving,
readin',reading,
reamy,creamy,
rebukit,rebuked,
receipt,recipe,
reckonin',reckoning,
reconceelin',reconciling,
reconcilet,reconciled,
reekit,rigged out; well-dressed,
regairdit,regarded,
reg'ment,regiment,
reid,red,
reik,smoke; vapour,
rejeckit,rejected,
remainin',remaining,
remeid,remedy; cure; redress,
repentin',repenting,
resentin',resenting,
respec',respect,
respecks,respects; considers worthy,
richt,right; correct,also mend
richteous,righteous,
richteousness,righteousness,
richtly,certainly; positively,
rig,ridge; space between furrows,also long narrow hill
rin,run,
rinnin',running,
rins,runs,
risin',rising,
rist,rest,
rivin',renting; tearing; tuging; wrenching,
rizzon,reason,
rizzonin',reasoning,
rizzons,reasons,
roarin',roaring,
rockit,rocked,
ro'd,road; course; way,
Rom',Rome,
roof-tree,beam forming the angle of a roof,
roomy,little room,diminutive
roon,around; round,
roon',around; round,
roset,resin; cobbler's wax,
roset-ends,shoemaker's waxed thread-ends,
rottan,rat,
rouch,rough,
rowdie,hag; beldame,
ruck,bulk; mass; majority,
ruggin',pulling forcibly; tugging; tearing,
ruggin' and rivin',draging forcibly,also contending for possession
runklet,wrinkled; creased; crumpled,
's,us; his; as; is,also has
s',shall,
sae,so; as,
saft,muddy; soft; silly; foolish,
saiddlet,saddled,
sair,sore; sorely; sad; hard; very; greatly,also serve; satisfy
sair heid,headache,
sair-vroucht,hard-worked,
saitisfee,satisfy,
saitisfeed,satisfied,
saitisfeet,satisfied,
salamander,large poker with a flat heated end,for lighting fires
sall,shall,
sang,song,
sangs,songs,
sanna,shall not,
Sanny,Sandy,also Scotsman
sark,shirt,
sarks,shirts,
sattle,settle,
saven,wise; knowledgeable,also seven
savin',saving,also except
savin's,savings,
Sawtan,Satan,
sax,six,
saxpence,sixpence,
sayin',saying,
scar,cliff; precipice,
scart,scratch; strike a match; scrape,
schuil,school,
schuilin',schooling; education,
schuilmaister,schoolmaster,
schule,school,
schule-time,time for school,
scoonrel,scoundrel,
scoon'rel,scoundrel,
Scotlan',Scotland,
scraich,shriek; scream; bird's shrill cry,
scrattit,scratched; dug,
screed,recite rapidly; talk tediously; reel off,also scraping sound
Scripter,Scripture,
sculduddery,fornication; grossness; obscenity,
scunner,disgust; disgusting; revolting,
scunnert,disgusted; loathed,
scurry,scour; got about from place to place,also wander aimlessly
seck,sack,
seein',seeing,
seekin',seeking,
se'enteen,seventeen,
sel',self,
self-forgettin',self-forgetting,
sellt,sold,
semies,second year's university students,at Aberdeen University
sen',send,
sendin',sending,
sen'in',sending,
servan',servant,
servan's,servants,
sessions-buik,church record of its proceedings,
set,set out; start off; become,also inclined; disposed
Setterday,Saturday,
shacken,shaken,
shackle-bane,wrist; wrist-bone,
Shackspear,Shakespeare,
shak'-doon,shakedown; crude makeshift bed,
shanna,shall not,
sharpset,keen; sharp-witted,
sharp-set,keen; sharp-witted,
shaw,show; reveal,also grove
shawn,shown,
shaws,shows,
shearin',shearing (sheep),
shillin',shilling,
shillin's,shillings,
shinin',shining,
shochlin,waddling; in-kneed,
shochlin',waddling; in-kneed,
shoothers,shoulders,
shortcomin's,shortcomings,
shortent,shortened,
shouldna,should not,
shuit,suit,
shune,shoes,
shutin',shooting,
sib,relation; akin; closely related,
sic,such; so; similar,
siccan,such a; such an,
sicht,sight,
sichtit,sighted,
sicker,secure; safe; firm; sure,
sic-like,suchlike; likewise,like such a person or thing
side,district; region,also the side of
sidin',siding,
siller,silver; money; wealth,
simmer,Summer,
sin,since; ago; since then,also sin; sun
sin',since; ago; since then,
sinfu',sinful,
singin',singing,
sittin',sitting,
skelf,shelf,also splinter
skelpin',digging; ploughing,also beating; striking
skirl,scream; sing shrilly,
slack,slow,
slauchtert,slaughtered,
sleepin',sleeping,
sleepit,slept,
sleicht o' han',sleight of hand,
sliddery,slippery; smooth,also sly; deceitful
slinkin',slinking,
slip,let slip; convey by stealth,
slippin',slipping,
slips,tricks,
sma',small; little; slight; narrow; young,
smacks,single-masted sailing boats,not necessarily a Scottish word
smeddum,spirit; mettle; liveliness,
smilin',smiling,
smokin',smoking; smouldering,
smokin' flax,smouldering wick,reference to Matthew 12:20
smorin',smothering; suffocating,
snappin',snapping,
snaw,snow,
sneck,door-latch; catch (gate),also latch
snod,smooth; neat; trim; tidy; snug,
sod,sad,
sodger,soldier,
sodgers,soldiers,
sojer,soldier,
some,somewhat; rather; quite; very,also some
somehoo,somehow,
sookit,sucked,
soon',sound,
soonds,sounds,
sornin',taking food or lodging; sponging,taking by force of threat
sortit,sorted,
soucht,sought,
sough,sigh; sound of wind; deep breath,
soun',sound,
soun's,sounds,
soutar,shoemaker; cobbler,
sowl,soul,
sowls,souls,
spak,spoke,
spak',spoke,
spark,speck; spot; blemish; atom,
spaud,spade,
speakin',speaking,
speerit,spirit,
speik,speak,
speikin',speaking,
speir,ask about; enquire; question,
speired,asked about; enquired; questioned,
speirin',asking about; enquiring; questioning,
speirs,asks about; enquires; questions,
speirt,asked about; enquired; questioned,
spen',spend,
spence,storeroom; larder,
speyk,speak,
speykin,speaking,
speykin',speaking,
spier,ask about; enquire; question,
spring,quick lively tune,
spult,spilt,
spunes,spoons,
Squaur,square,
stack,stuck,
stair,stairs; staircase,
stamack,stomach,
stamacks,stomachs,
stampin',stamping,
stan',stand; stop,
stane,stone; measure of weight,1 stone = 14 pounds
stanes,stones,
stan'in',standing,
stan's,stands,
starnie,very small quantity,
startit,started,
steek,shut; close; clench,also stitch (as in clothing)
steekit,shut; closed; clenched,
stept,stepped,
sterve,starve,
stew,dust; vapour; smoke,also stench; stink
stickin',sticking; goring,
stingin',stinging,
stinkin',stinking,
stockin'-fit,feet clothed in stockings,i.e. without shoes
stook,arranging the sheaves in a stook,
stoun',ache; throb,
stown,stolen,
Straddle Vawrious,Stradivarius,make of violin
strae-deith,death in bed; natural death,not a violent death
straik,streak; stroke; blow; caress,
straiks,streaks; strokes; blows; caresses,
strang,strong,
strathspey,Highland dance,like a reel but slower
straucht,straighten; straight,
straught,straight,
stravaguin',saunter; stroll; go about aimlessly,
stren'th,strength,
stucken,stuck,
stud,stood,
stule,stool,
styte,nonsense,
subjec',subject,
subjeck,subject,
subjecks,subjects,
substrackin',subtracting,
sudna,should not,
sufferin',suffering,
suffert,suffered,
suld,should,
suldna,should not,
sumph,soft blunt fellow; simpleton; fool,
sune,soon; early,
sune's,soon as,
sung,singed,
sunk,drivel; loiter,also be in a low dejected state
sup,drink,
supped,drank,
supposin',supposing,
swack,elastic; limber; supple,
swarf,swoon; faint,
sweer,swear,
sweir,swear,
sweirer,swearer,
sweirin',swearing,
sweirs,swears,
sworn,swore,
syde,wide and long; hanging low down,
syne,ago; since; then; at that time,also in (good) time
't,it,
tae,toe; also tea,also the one; to
taed,toad,
ta'en,taken; seized,
taes,toes,
taings,tongs; prongs,
tak,take; seize,
tak',take; seize,
tak tent,look out; pay attention; watch,
takin',taking,
taks,takes; seizes,
talkin',talking,
tane,the one,also taken
tap,top; tip; head,
tastin',tasting,
taucht,taught,
tauld,told,
tawtie,potato,
taxed,found fault with; scolded,
tay,tea; supper,
tay-time,tea time; supper,
teachin',teaching,
teep,type,
telled,told,
tellin',telling,
tellt,told,
tell't,told,
telt,told,
tent,attention; care; heed; notice,
thae,those; these,
thairm,fiddle-string,also intestine; gut; belly
than,then,also than
thankfu',thankful,
thankit,thanked,
thanksgivin',thanksgiving,
that'll,that will,
the day,today,
the morn,tomorrow,
the nicht,tonight,
the noo,just now; now,
the piece,apiece,
thegither,together,
themsels,themselves,
themsel's,themselves,
thereaboots,thereabouts,
thimmel,thimble,
thinkin',thinking,
thinksna,does not think,
this mony a day,for some time,
tho',though,
thocht,thought,
thochtna,did not think,
thochts,thoughts,
thoo,thou; you (God),
thoomacks,violin-pegs,
thoucht,thought,
thouchts,thoughts,
thrapple,windpipe; throat,
thrivin',thriving,
throu,through,
throu',through,
throuw,through,
throw,through,
thrum,particle; tangle; mess,
ticht,tight,
til,to; till; until; about; at; before,
till,to; till; until; about; at; before,
timmer,timber; wood,
tint,lost; got lost,
'tis,it is,
tither,the other,
tod,fox,
toom,empty; unload,
toomin',emptying; unloading,
toon,town; village,
toon-piper,town piper,
toot,tut!,exclamation of annoyance
Toots!,Tuts!; Tush!,
towie,string,
trailin',dragging forcibly; hauling along,
traivel,travel,
traivellin',travelling,
tramp,trudge,also tramp
transe,passage within a house,also alley; narrow space
tribble,trouble,
trimlin',trembling,
troo,trust; believe,
troosers,trousers,
troth,truth; indeed,also used as an exclamation
trowth,truth; indeed,also used as an exclamation
tryin',trying,
'ts,its,
tu,too; also,
tuik,took,
tum'ler,tumbler; glass (of whisky),
turnin',turning,
turnt,turned,
twa,two; a few,
twa three,several,
twal,twelve,
twalmonth,twelvemonth; year,
'twas,it was,
twise,twice,
tyke,dog,also rough clownish fellow
tyne,lose; get lost; miss,
'ull,will,
umquhile,former; of old; late,
unbecomin',unbecoming,
unco,unknown; odd; strange; uncouth,also very great
unco',unknown; odd; strange; uncouth,also very great
understan',understand,
unner,under,
unnerstan,understand,
unnerstan',understand,
unpleasin',unpleasing; unpleasant,
unsoucht,unsought,
unweel,unwell,
up the stair,upstairs,also to heaven
uphaud,uphold; maintain; support,
uphaudin',upholding; maintaining; supporting,
upo',upon; on to; at,
upsettin',forward; ambitious; stuck-up; proud,
vailue,value,
vainishin',vanishing,
vainities,vanities,
verra,very; true; real,
vex,trouble; vexation,
vraith,apparition,
vrang,wrong,
vratch,wretch,
vrote,wrote,
vroucht,wrought; worked,
wa',wall,also way; away
wad,would,
wadna,would not,
wailin',wailing,
waitin',waiting,
wakin',waking,
wall,well; spring of water,
wallopin',dancing; galloping,also beating; thrashing; knocking
wame,belly; stomach; womb; hollow,
wamlin',rolling; undulating,
wan,reached; gained; got,
wan'erer,wanderer,
wantin',wanting; lacking; without; in want of,
wantit,wanted,
war,were,
wark,work; labour,also show of affection
warl',world; worldly goods,also a large number
warld,world,
warldly,worldly,
warna,were not,
warran',warrant; guarantee,
warst,worst,
wa's,walls,also ways
washin',washing,
wasna,was not,
was't,was it,
wastit,wasted,
wat,wet,see also 'I wat.'
watchin',watching,
watter,water,
wauken,awake; wake,
waukens,wakes,
waukin',waking,
waukit,woke,
waukmill,fulling mill,
wauk-mill,fulling-mill,
waur,worse,also spend money
waure,ware,
weddin',wedding,
wee,small; little; bit,also short time; while
weel,well; fine,
weel-behaved,well-behaved,
weelfaur,welfare,
weel's,well as,
weet,wet; dew; rain,
weicht,weight,
weir,wear,also hedge; fence; enclosure
weirs,wears,
weyver,weaver; knitter,also knitter of stockings; spider
wha,who,
wha',who,
whaever,whoever,
whan,when,
wharever,wherever,
wha's,who is,also whose
whase,whose,
What for no?,Why not?,
What for?,Why?,
whaur,where,
whaur'll,where will,
whaur's,where is; where has,
wheen,little; few; number; quantity,
whiles,sometimes; at times; now and then,
whilie,short time,
whilk,which,
whumle,whelm; overwhelm; upset,
whusky,whisky,
whustle,whistle,
whustled,whistled,
wi',with,
wice,wise,
wife,woman; landlady,also wife
wight,fellow,
willin'ly,willingly,
willna,will not,
win,reach; gain; get; go; come,
win',wind,also reach; gain; get; go; come
winkit,winked,
winna,will not,
winnin',reaching; gaining; getting,
winnock,window,
winsome,large; comely; merry,
wi'oot,without,
wirrycow,scarecrow,
wis,was,also wish
wiss,wish,
wissed,wished,
wit,intelligence; information,also sense; wisdom
wite,blame; reproach; fault,
withoot,without,
withstan',withstand,
wob,web; woven material,
wolums,volumes,
wonner,wonder; marvel,
wonnerfu',wonderful; great; large,
wonnerin',wondering,
wonnert,wondered,
wordy,little word; little saying or proverb,diminutive
workin',working,
worryin',worrying,
wouldna,would not,
wow,woe,exclamation of wonder or grief or satisfaction
wrang,wrong; injured,
writin',writing,
wud,wood; forest,adj.-enraged; angry; mad; also would
wuddyfous,gallows' birds; scamps,also small ill-tempered persons
wull,will; wish; desire,also astray; stray; wild
wuman,woman,
wumman,woman,
wuss,wish,
wynd,narrow lane or street; alley,
wynds,narrow lanes or streets; alleys,
wyte,blame; reproach; fault,
yaird,yard; garden; farmyard,also yard (36 inches)
yairds,yards; gardens,also yards (1 yard = 36 inches)
ye,you; yourself,
year,years,also year
ye'll,you will,
Yellow-beak,first year's student,at Aberdeen University
yer,your,
yer lane,on your own,
ye're,you are,
yersel,yourself,
yer'sel,yourself,
yersel',yourself,
yersels,yourselves,
ye've,you have,
yird,earth,
yon,that; those; that there; these,
yonner,yonder; over there; in that place,
yon's,that is; that (thing) there is,
yoong,young,
yowth,youth,