Books: Robert Falconer

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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:

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.

2 An exclamation of pitiful sympathy, inexplicable to the
understanding. Thus the author covers his philological ignorance of
the cross-breeding of the phrase.

3 Extra--over all--ower a'--orra--one more than is wanted.

4 Tennyson's Morte d'Arthur.
Atque animum nunc huc celerem, nunc dividit illuc.
Æneid: IV. 285

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.

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?

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.

8 This sonnet and the preceding are both one line deficient.

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.

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,