But that we're dyvours that can ne'er repay? }
Whate'er your Honour wills, I shall obey. }
Roger, my daughter, with my blessing, take,
And still our master's right your business make.
Please him, be faithful, and this auld gray head
Shall nod with quietness down amang the dead.
_Rog._ I ne'er was good a speaking a' my days,
Or ever loo'd to make o'er great a fraise:
But for my master, father and my wife,
I will employ the cares of all my life.
_Sir Will._ My friends, I'm satisfied you'll all behave,
Each in his station, as I'd wish or crave.
Be ever vertuous, soon or late you'll find
Reward, and satisfaction to your mind.
The maze of life sometimes looks dark and wild;
And oft when hopes are highest, we're beguil'd:
Aft, when we stand on brinks of dark despair, }
Some happy turn with joy dispells our care. }
Now all's at rights, who sings best let me hear. }
_Peg._ When you demand, I readiest should obey:
I'll sing you ane, the newest that I ha'e.
SANG XXI.--_Tune_, Corn-riggs are bonny.
_My_ Patie _is a lover gay,
His mind is never muddy;
His breath is sweeter than new hay,
His face is fair and ruddy:
His shape is handsome, middle size;
He's comely in his wauking:
The shining of his een surprise;
'Tis Heaven to hear him tawking._
_Last night I met him on a bawk,
Where yellow corn was growing,
There mony a kindly word he spake,
That set my heart a glowing.
He kiss'd, and vow'd he wad be mine,
And loo'd me best of ony,
That gars me like to sing since syne,
O corn-riggs are bonny._
_Let lasses of a silly mind
Refuse what maist they're wanting;
Since we for yielding were design'd,
We chastly should be granting.
Then I'll comply, and marry_ Pate,
_And syne my cockernonny
He's free to touzel air or late,
Where corn-riggs are bonny._
[_Exeunt omnes._
NOTES.
Page 5, line 11 from top; the reading in the text is:--
"She fled as frae a shellycoat or kow."
This is the reading in the 8vo and 4to editions of 1721; (and also
in the 12mo edition of 1761;) where was published the _first
scene_ of the Pastoral, as a separate poem, under the title of
"Patie and Roger." But, in all the editions of the _Gentle
Shepherd_ that we have seen, the reading stands thus:--
"She fled as frae a shellycoated kow."
We think the first reading is the true one; and that the second
is, probably, a typographical error. We have come to this
conclusion after an inquiry into the meaning of the words
"Shellycoat" and "Kow." The definitions of these words, from the
best authorities we know of, are subjoined; which will enable such
of our readers as have any curiosity in the matter to judge for
themselves.
"_Shellycoat_, a spirit, who resides in the waters, and has given
his name to many a rock and stone upon the Scottish coast, belongs
also to the class of bogles. When he appeared, he seemed to be
decked with marine productions, and in particular with _shells_,
whose clattering announced his approach. From this circumstance he
derived his name.--_Shellycoat_ must not be confounded with
_Kelpy_, a water spirit also, but of a much more powerful and
malignant nature."
[_Scott's Minstrelsy_, vol. i., Introd. civ. cv.
"_Shellycoat._ One of those frightful spectres the ignorant people
are terrified at, and tell us strange stories of; that they are
clothed with a coat of shells, which make a horrid rattling; that
they'll be sure to destroy one, if he gets not a running water
between him and it: it dares not meddle with a woman with child,
&c."
[_Ramsay's Poems._ vol. i., 4to edition, 1721.
"_Kow_ or _Cow_" a hobgoblin; also, a scarecrow, a bugbear.
_Cow-man_, the devil."
[_Jamieson's Scottish Dictionary._
"_Wirrikow_," the devil.
[_Hogg's Mountain Bard._
The above definitions of _Shellycoat._are very precise: that of
_Kow_ is less so. Both are spirits, and frightful in character; yet
apparently of distinct habits. Hence the _first_ of the readings
given above,--the oldest and that adopted in the text--
"She fled as frae a shellycoat or kow,"
is quite natural and proper: the _second_ (though susceptible of
explanation,) seems much less so.
* * * * *
At page 57, a variation from the text given in the present edition, is
found in nearly all the more modern editions: it is as follows:--
"_Enter_ BAULDY [_singing_].
SANG XVI.
Jocky _said to_ Jenny, Jenny, _wilt thou do't?
Ne'er a fit, quoth_ Jenny, _for my tocher-good;
For my tocher-good, I winna marry thee:
E'en's-ye-like, quoth,_ Jocky, _I can let you be._
_Mause,_[59] Well liltit, Bauldy, that's a dainty sang.
[Footnote 59: In some editions, _Madge_.]
_Bauldy,_ I'se gie ye't a', it's better than it's lang.
_I have gowd and gear, I have land eneugh,
I have sax good owsen ganging in a pleugh;
Ganging in a pleugh, and linkan o'er the lee,
And gin ye winna tak me, I can let ye be._
_I have a good ha' house, a barn, and a byre;
A peat-stack 'fore the door, will mak a ranting fire;
I'll mak a ranting fire, and merry shall we be,
And gin ye winna tak me, I can let ye be._
Jenny _said to_ Jocky, _gin ye winna tell,
Ye shall be the lad, I'll be the lass mysell;
Ye're a bonny lad, and I'm a lassie free;
Y'ere welcomer to tak me than to let me be._"
* * * * *
In "Ramsay's Poems," published in London, by Millar, Rivington &
Co., 2 vols. 12mo, 1761; (three years after the author's death;)
there occur several variations from the text of the present
edition. As the more important of these changes, with one
exception, have been adopted in the edition edited by George
Chalmers, published by Cadell & Co., London, 2 vols. 8vo, 1800;
(usually considered the "best edition" of Ramsay's collected
works;) and as they have been again adopted in the recent reprint
of Cadell's edition by Fullarton & Co., London, 3 vols. 12mo,
1850, it has been thought best to present them here in the form of
notes. The following, therefore, are to be understood as the
readings in the editions just referred to:--
Page 5, line 13 from bottom:--
"'Till he yowl'd sair she strak the poor dumb tyke:"
This is the reading in the 8vo and 4to editions of 1721, before
referred to. In the 4to subscription edition of 1728, the author
rejected the above reading, and substituted that given in the
text. This would seem to be conclusive; and produces a
considerable degree of suspicion as to the authority for the other
alterations which we find in the editions of 1761 and 1800.
Page 11, line 4 from bottom:--
"We soon will hear what a poor feightan life"
[_Edition of_ 1800.
The editions of 1761 and 1850 give the reading in the text.
Page 19, line 8 from top:--
"To shine, or set in glory with Montrose."
Page 25, line 8 from bottom:--
"_Bauldy._ Well vers'd in herbs and seasons of the moon,
By skilfu' charms 'tis kend what ye have done."
[_Edition of_ 1761.
The editions of 1800 and 1850 give the reading in the text.
Page 27:--
MAUSE _her lane_.
"This fool imagines, as do mony sic,
That I'm a witch in compact with _Auld Nick_,
Because by education I was taught
To speak and act aboon their common thought.
Their gross mistake shall quickly now appear,
Soon shall they ken what brought, what keeps me here.
Now since the royal _Charles_, and right's restor'd,
A shepherdess is daughter to a lord.
The _bonny foundling_ that's brought up by _Glaud_,
Wha has an uncle's care on her bestow'd,
Her infant life I sav'd, when a false friend
Bow'd to th' _Usurper_, and her death design'd,
To establish him and his in all these plains
That by right heritage to her pertains.
She's now in her sweet bloom, has blood and charms
Of too much value for a shepherd's arms:
None knows't but me;--and if the morn were come,
I'll tell them tales will gar them all sing dumb."
Page 29, line 7 from top:--
"I darna stay,--ye joker, let me gang,
Or swear ye'll never tempt to do me wrang."
Page 29, line 15 from top:--
"Shall do thee wrang, I swear by all aboon."
Page 36, line 4 from top:--
"No _Jaccacinths_ or _Eglantines_ appear.
Here fail'd and broke's the rising ample shade,
Where _peach_ and _nect'rine_ trees their branches spread,
Basking in rays, and early did produce
Fruit fair to view, delightful in the use;
All round in gaps, the walls in ruin lie,
And from what stands the wither'd branches fly."
Page 47, line 10 from bottom:--
"With equal joy my safter heart does yield,
To own thy well-try'd love has won the field."
Page 62, top line:--
"But love rebels against all bounding laws;
Fixt in my soul the shepherdess excells,"
Page 63, line 15 from bottom:--
"Fine claiths, saft beds, sweet houses, sparkling wine,
Rich fare, and witty friends, whene'er ye dine,
Submissive servants, honour, wealth and ease,"
Page 64, line 14 from bottom:--
"_Roger._ And proud of being your secretary, I
To wyle it frae me a' the deels defy."
Page 67, line 10 from bottom:--
"Dream thro' that night, 'till my day-star appear;"
Page 70, line 5 from bottom:--
"_Peggy._ Were ilka hair that appertains to me
Worth an estate, they all belong to thee:
My sheers are ready, take what you demand,
And aught what love with virtue may command.
_Patie._ Nae mair I'll ask; but since we've little time,"
Page 72, line 9 from top:--
"What want ye, Bauldy, at this [early silent] hour,
When nature nods beneath the drowsy pow'r:"
Page 73, line 8 from bottom:--
"Lows'd down my breeks, while I like a great fool,"
[_Not in edition of 1850._
Page 82, line 12 from bottom:--
"_Patie._ Good nurse, dispatch thy story wing'd with blisses,
That I may give my cusin fifty kisses."
Besides the above, there occur, in the edition of 1761, about 50
_verbal_ alterations, additions, and omissions; and about 75 in
the edition of 1800. In the edition of 1850 there are fewer
changes, it having been partially corrected, probably from the 8vo
edition of 1808. These verbal changes are rarely, if ever,
improvements; frequently of little consequence, and sometimes they
appear silly; for instance, towards the end of the Pastoral there
is substituted, in two or three instances, Archbald instead of
Bauldy! We have not, therefore, thought it worth while to note
them here. We rather think that our readers, generally, will not
consider the readings above given, as improvements on those in the
text.
A
GLOSSARY;
OR,
AN EXPLANATION OF THE SCOTTISH WORDS
WHICH ARE USED IN
_ALLAN RAMSAY'S "GENTLE SHEPHERD;"_
AND WHICH ARE RARELY FOUND IN MODERN ENGLISH WRITINGS:
WITH ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS.
* * * * *
A.
_A'_, all.
_Abeit_, albeit, although.
_Ablins_, perhaps.
_Aboon_, above.
_Ae_, or _ane_, one.
_Aff_, off.
_Aften_, often.
_Ain_, or _awn_, own.
_Air_, long since, early.
_Air up_, soon up in the morning.
_Airth_, quarter of the heaven.
_Alane_, alone.
_Amaist_, almost.
_Amang_, among.
_Aneath_, beneath.
_Anes_, once.
_Anither_, another.
_Asteer_, stirring.
_Atanes_, at once, at the same time.
_Attour_, out-over.
_Auld_, old.
_Awa_, away.
_A-will_, voluntarily.
_Awner_, owner.
B.
_Ba'_, ball.
_Badrans_, a cat.
_Bairns_, children.
_Bair_, bear, boar.
_Baith_, both.
_To ban_, to curse.
_Banefire_, bonfire.
_Bannocks_, a sort of unleavened bread, thicker than cakes, and round.
_Barlickhood_, a fit of drunken angry passion.
_Bassend_, see _Bawsy_.
_Baugh_, sorry, indifferent.
_Bauk_, balk.
_Bauld_, bold.
_Bawk_, a rafter, joist; likewise, the space between cornfields; to
frustrate.
_Bawsy_, bawsand-fac'd, is a cow, or horse, with a white face.
_Be_, by.
_Bedeen_, immediately, in haste.
_Begunk_, a trick, a cheat.
_Beik_, to bask.
_Beild_, or _beil_, a shelter.
_Bein_, or _been_, wealthy, comfortable. A _been_ house, a warm
well-furnished one.
_Ben_, the inner room of a house.
_Come farer ben_, be better received.
_Bend_, a pull of liquor.
_Bend the bicker_, quaff out the cup.
_Bent_, a coarse kind of grass growing on hilly ground; the open
field, the plain.
_To the bent_, fled out of reach.
_Betooch-us-to_, Heaven preserve us.
_Beuk_, baked.
_Bicker_, a wooden dish.
_Bide_, to await.
_Bigonet_, a linen cap or coif.
_Billy_, brother, a young man.
_Birks_, birch-trees.
_Birky_,--_auld birky_, old boy.
_Birn_, a burnt mark.
_Birns_, the stalks of burnt heath.
_Black-sole_, a confidant in courtship.
_Blae_, black and blue, the colour of the skin when bruised.
_Blaeberry_, bilberry.
_Blashy_, plashy, deluging.
_Blate_, bashful.
_Blaw_, blow; to boast.
_Bleech_, to blanch or whiten.
_Bleer_, to bedim with tears.
_Bleez_, blaze.
_Blob_, a drop.
_Bob_, to move up and down as in dancing.
_Bobbit bands_, tasselled bands (worn about the neck).
_Bode_, to proffer.
_Bonny_, beautiful.
_Bouk_, bulk.
_Bourd_, jest or dally.
_Bowt_, bolt.
_Brae_, the side of a hill, a steep bank.
_Braid_, broad.
_Brankan_, prancing, a capering.
_Brattle_, to advance rapidly, making a noise with the feet.
_Brats_, aprons of coarse linen.
_Braw_, brave; fine in apparel.
_Breaks_, becomes bankrupt.
_Brecken_, fern.
_Briss_, to press.
_Brock_, a badger.
_Broe_, broth.
_Brown cow_, a ludicrous expression for ale or beer, as opposed to
milk.
_Bught_, the little fold where the ewes are inclosed at milking-time.
_Bumbazed_, confused; made to stare and look like an idiot.
_Burn_, or _burnie_, a brook.
_Busk_, to deck, dress.
_Bustine_, fustian (cloth.)
_But_, often used for _without_; as "_but_ feed or favour."
_But a flaw_, without a lie.
_But_,--_fetch but_, bring into the outer apartment, or that used as a
kitchen.
_By and attour_, over and above.
_By_,--_flings by_, throws aside.
_Byre_, or _byar_, a cow-house.
C.
_Ca_, call.
_Cadgy_, good-humoured, happy, fond.
_Canker'd_, angry, passionately snarling.
_Canna_, cannot.
_Canny_, prudent. (See _Kanny_.)
_Cantraips_, incantations.
_Canty_, cheerful and merry.
_Car_, sledge.
_Carle_, a word for an old man.
_Carna_, care not.
_Cast up_, to upbraid one with a thing.
_Cauld_, cold.
_Cauldrife_, spiritless; wanting cheerfulness in address.
_Cauler_, cool or fresh.
_Cawf_, or _caff_, a calf; chaff.
_Cawk_, chalk.
_Chiel_, or _chield_, a general term like fellow; used sometimes with
respect, as, "he's a very good _chiel_;" and contemptuously, "that
_chiel_."
_Chirm_, chirp and sing like a bird.
_Chitter_, chatter.
_Chucky_, a hen.
_Claith_, cloth.
_Clatter_, to chatter.
_Claw_, scratch.
_Cleck_, to hatch.
_Cleek_, to catch as with a hook.
_Closs_, close.
_Clute_, or cloot, hoof of cows or sheep.
_Cockernony_, the gathering of a woman's hair, when it is wrapt or
snooded up with a band or snood.
_Coft_, bought.
_Coof_, a stupid fellow.
_Corby_, a raven.
_Cottar_, a cottager.
_Crack_, to chat, to talk.
_Craig_, a rock.
_Crap_, crept.
_Croon_, or _crune_, to murmur or hum over a song.
_Crove_, a cottage.
_Crummy_, or _crummock_, a cow's name.
_Cunzie_, or _coonie_, coin.
_Curn_, a small quantity.
_Cut and dry_, a kind of tobacco.
D.
_Daffine_, folly, waggery.
_Daft_, foolish.
_Dainty_, is used as an epithet of a fine man or woman.
_Dang_, _did ding_, beat, thrust, drive.
_Darn_, to hide.
_Darna_, dare not.
_Dash_, to put out of countenance.
_Dawty_, a fondling, darling. _To dawt_, or _daut_, to cocker and
caress with tenderness.
_Decreet_, award.
_Deil_, or _deel_, the devil.
_Dike_, or _dyke_, a fence of stone or turf.
_To Ding_, to drive down, to beat, to overcome.
_Dinna_, do not.
_Disna_, does not.
_Dit_, to stop or close up a hole.
_Divot_, thin turf.
_Doilt_, confused and silly.
_Doof_, a dull, heavy-headed fellow.
_Dool_, pain, grief.
_Dorts_, a proud pet.
_Dorty_, proud; not to be spoken to; conceited; appearing as
dis-obliged.
_Dosens_, becomes torpid.
_Dow_, to will, to incline, to thrive; to be able.
_Dowie_, sickly, melancholy, doleful, sad.
_Downa_, _dow not_, i. e., though one has the power, he wants the
heart to do it.
_Dowp_, the arse; the small remains of a candle.
_Drap_, drop.
_Dreery_, wearisome, frightful.
_Drie_, to suffer, endure.
_Drouth_, drought, thirst.
_Dubs_, mire, small pools of water.
_Duds_, rags. _Duddy_, ragged.
_Dung_, driven down, overcome.
_Dunt_, stroke or blow; to beat, to palpitate.
_Dyvour_, a bankrupt, a debtor.
E.
_Eastlin_, easterly, eastward.
_Een_, eyes.
_Eild_, old age.
_Eith_, easy. _Eithly_, easily.
_Elf-shot_, bewitched, shot by fairies.
_Elritch_, wild, hideous, uninhabited except by imaginary ghosts.
_Elvand_, the ell measure.
_Ergh_, scrupulous; when one makes faint attempts to do a thing,
without a steady resolution; to be timorous.
_Ether_, an adder.
_Ethercap_, or _ettercap_, a venomous spiteful creature.
_Ettle_, to aim, design.
_Even'd_, compared.
_Evens_, equals, compares, allies.
F.
_Fa_, fall.
_Fae_, foe.
_Fain_, joyful, tickled with pleasure.
_Fairfa'_, when we wish well to one, that a good or fair fate may
befall him.
_Fand_, found.
_Farder_, farther.
_Farer seen_, more knowing.
_Fash_,--_never fash your thumb_, be not the least vexed, be easy.
_Fash_, to vex or trouble. _Fasheous_, troublesome.
_Fauld_, fold.
_Fause_, false.
_Faut_, fault.
_Fawn_, fallen.
_Feckless_, feeble, little and weak.
_Feg_, a fig.
_Fell_, good, valuable, keen; a rocky, or wild, hill.
_Fere_, sound, entire.
_Ferlie_, wonder.
_Feu_, tenure, a fief.
_Firlot_, four pecks, the fourth part of a boll.
_Fit_, the foot.
_Flaes_, fleas.
_Flaw_, lie or fib.
_Flawing_, lying, fibbing.
_Fleetch_, to coax or flatter.
_Fleg_, fright.
_Flesh a' creep_, a phrase which expresses shuddering.
_Flet_, the preterit of _flyte_, did chide.
_Fley_, or _flie_, to affright. _Fleyt_, or _fleid_, afraid or
terrified.
_Flighter_, flutter.
_Flit_, to remove.
_Flite_, or _flyte_, to scold or chide. _Flet_, did scold.
_Flyp_, to turn inside out.
_Fog_, moss.
_Forby_, besides.
_Forgainst_, opposite to.
_Forgather_, to meet, encounter.
_Forrow cow_, a cow that is not with calf, and therefore continues to
give milk throughout the winter.
_Fou_, or _fu_, full.
_Fouth_, abundance, plenty.
_Fowk_, folk.
_Fow-weel_, full well.
_Frae_, fro, or from.
_Fraise_, to make a noise. We use to say "one makes a _fraise_," when
they boast, wonder, and talk more of a matter than it is worthy of,
or will bear.
_Freath the graith_, to froth the suds about the clothes in washing.
_Fundling_, foundling.
G.
_Ga_, _gaw_, gall.
_Gab_, the mouth. _To Gab_, to prate.
_Gade_, went, did go.
_To Gae_, to go.
_Gait_, a goat.
_Gane_, gone.
_Gar_, to cause, make, or force.
_Gat_, got.
_Gate_, or _gait_, way.
_Gaw_, to take the pet, to be galled.
_Gawky_, an idle, staring, idiotical person.
_Gawn_, going.
_Gaws_, galls.
_Gay and early_, pretty early.
_To geck_, to mock, to toss the head with disdain.
_Gett_, a brat, a child, by way of contempt or derision.
_Ghaist_, a ghost.
_Gif_, if.
_Gin_, if.
_Girn_, to grin, snarl.
_Glen_, a narrow valley between mountains.
_Gloom_, to scowl or frown.
_Glowr_, to stare.
_Gowans_, daisies.
_Gowd_, gold.
_Gowk_, the cuckoo. In derision, we call a thoughtless fellow, and one
who harps too long on one subject, a _gowk_.
_Grace-drink_, the drink taken by a company after the giving of thanks
at the end of a meal.
_Graith_, furniture, harness, armour.
_To Grane_, to groan.
_Grany_, grandmother, any old woman.
_Gree_, prize, victory.
_Green_, or _grien_, to long for.
_Greet_, to weep. _Grat_, wept.
_Grit_, familiar.
_Grots_, milled oats.
_Gusty_, savoury.
_Gyte_, _gane gyte_, acts extravagantly.
H.
_Ha_, hall.
_Had_, hold.
_Hae_, have.
_Haff_, half.
_Haffet_, the cheek, side of the head.
_Haflen_, partly, in part.
_Hagabag_, coarse table-linen.
_Haggies_, a kind of pudding made of the lungs and liver of a sheep,
and boiled in the big bag.
_Hag-raid_, witch-ridden, tormented by hags or phantoms.
_Hait_, or _het_, hot.
_Haith_, (a minced oath,) faith.
_Hald_, or _had_, hold.
_Hale_, whole.
_Halesome_, wholesome.
_Hallen_, a fence of turf, twigs, or stone, built at the side of a
cottage door, to screen from the wind.
_Haly_, holy.
_Haly band_, kirk session.
_Hame_, home.
_Hamely_, friendly, frank, open, kind.
_Happing_, hopping.
_Hapt_, covered.
_Harigalds_, the heart, liver, and lights of an animal.
_Hawky_, a cow; a white-faced cow.
_Hawse_, or _hauss_, the throat or gullet.
_Hawslock_, the wool that grows on the hawse or throat.
_Heartsome_, blythe and happy.
_Heeryestreen_, the night before yesternight.
_Heffs_, or _hefts_, dwells.
_Heghts_, or _hechts_, promises, engagements, proffers.
_Het_, hot.
_Hether-bells_, the heath-blossom.
_Hiddils_, or _hidlings_, lurking, hiding-places. To do a thing in
_hidlings_, i. e., privately.
_Hinder_, last.
_To Hing_, to hang.
_Hinny_, honey.
_Hissel-shaw_, hazel-wood.
_Hobleshew_, confused racket, uproar.
_Hodden-grey_, coarse grey cloth.
_Hool_, husk, shell.
_How_, low ground, a hollow.
_Howdy_, a midwife.
_Howk_, to dig.
_Howms_, _holms_, plains on river-sides.
_Howt!_ fy!
I.
_Ilk_, each. _Ilka_, every.
_Of that ilk_, of an estate having the same name as the owner.
_Ingan_, onion.
_Ingle_, fire.
_I'se_, I shall; as, _I'll_, for I will.
_Ither_, other.
J.
_Jaccacinths_, hyacinths.
_Jaw_, a wave or gush of water.
_Jee_, to incline on one side.
_Jo_, sweetheart.
K.
_Kaim_, or _kame_, comb.
_Kale_, or _kail_, colewort; and sometimes, broth.
_Kanny_, or _canny_, fortunate; also, wary, one who manages his
affairs discreetly; cautious.
_Kedgy_, or _cadgie_, jovial.
_Keep up_, hide, or retain.
_Ken_, to know.
_Kenna_, know not.
_Kent_, a long staff, such as shepherds use for leaping over ditches.
_Kilted_, tucked up.
_Kirn_, a churn; to churn.
_Kitted_, kept in a small wooden vessel.
_Kittle_, difficult, mysterious, knotty (writings).
_Kittle_, to tickle, ticklish; vexatious.
_Knit up themsells_, hang up themselves.
_Know_, a hillock, a knoll.
_Kow_, goblin. _See Notes_, p. 89.
_Ky_, kine or cows.
L.
_Lair_, or _lear_, learning; to learn.
_Laith_, loth.
_Lake_, lack.
_Landwart_, the country, or belonging to it; rustic.
_Lane_, alone.
_Lang_, long.
_Langsome_, slow, tedious.
_Lang-syne_, long ago; sometimes used as a substantive noun, auld
_lang-syne_, old times by-past.
_Lap_, leaped.
_Lave_, the rest or remainder.
_Lavrock_, the lark.
_Leal_, or _leel_, true, upright, honest, faithful to trust, loyal; "a
_leal_ heart never lied."
_Lee_, untilled ground; also an open grassy plain.
_Leek_,--_clean's a leek_, perfectly clever and right.
_Leen_, cease, give up, yield.
_Leglen_, a milking-pail with one lug or handle.
_Len_, lend, loan.
_Let na on_, do not divulge.
_Leugh_, laughed.
_Lick_, to whip or beat; a blow.
_Lied_, ye lied, ye tell a lie.
_Lift_, the sky or firmament.
_Lills_, the holes of a wind instrument of music; hence, "_lilt_ up a
spring."
_Lin_, a waterfall.
_Linkan_, walking speedily.
_Loan_, or _loaning_, a passage for the cattle to go to pasture, left
untilled; a little common, where the maids often assembled to milk
the ewes.
_Loe_, or _loo_, to love.
_Loof_, the hollow of the hand.
_Lounder_, a sound blow.
_Lout_, to bow down, making courtesy; to stoop.
_Low_, flame. _Lowan_, flaming.
_Lowp_, to leap.
_Lowrie_, _lawrie_, cunning; a designation given to the fox.
_Lucky_, grandmother, or goody.
_Lug_, ear; handle of a pot or vessel.
_Luggie_, a dish of wood with a handle.
_Lug out_, pull or draw out.
_Lyart_, hoary or grey-haired.
M.
_Mae_, more.
_Maik_, or _make_, to match, equal.
_Mailen_, a farm.
_Main_, or _mane_, moan.
_Mair_, more.
_Maist_, most.
_Mansworn_, perjured.
_Mavis_, a thrush.
_Maun_, must. _Mauna_, must not, may not.
_Mawt_, malt.
_Mear_, mare.
_Meikle_, much, big, great, large.
_Mennin_, minnow.
_Merl_, the blackbird.
_Midding_, a dunghill.
_Milk-bowie_, milking-pail.
_Mint_, aim, endeavour, to attempt.
_Mirk_, dark.
_Misca_, to give names.
_Mither_, mother.
_Mittons_, woollen gloves.
_Mony_, many.
_Mools_, the earth of the grave.
_Motty_, full of motes.
_Mou_, or _mow_, mouth.
_Mows_, _nae mows_, no jest.
_Muck_, dung.
_Muckle_, see _Meikle_.
N.
_Na_, _nae_, no, not.
_Nathing_, _naething_, _naithing_, nothing.
_Nane_, none.
_Near-hand_, nearly, almost.
_Neist_, next.
_Newcal_, new calved (cows.)
_Newfangle_, fond of a new thing.
_Nibour_, neighbour.
_Nick_,--_auld Nick_, the devil.
_Nive_, the fist.
_Nocht_, nought, not.
_Nor_, than.
_Nowt_, cows, kine.
_Nowther_, neither.
O.