The Slow Shelf · Library · Authors · Subjects · About

Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Volume 24 · Unknown

Section 24

AUKWART, AWKWART, _prep._ across; athwart.

AULD-CLUITY, _s._ the devil.

AULDEST, _adj._ oldest; elder.

AULD, _adj._ old; aged.

AULDFARRANT, AULDFARRAND, _adj._ sagacious.

AULD-MOU'D, _adj._ sagacious in discourse. Sometimes used as crafty.

AUMUS, _s._ an alms.

AVA, _adv._ at all.

AWA, _adv._ away.

AWFU', _adj._ awful.

AWIN, AWYN, _adj._ own. This is the common _pronoun_ in the south of Scotland; in other parts, _ain_.

AWNIE, _adj._ bearded.

AWNS, _s. pl._ the beards of corn or barley.

AWSK, _s._ the newt or eft.

AWSOME, _adj._ awful; appalling.

_To_ AX, _v. a._ to ask.

AX-TREE, _s._ an axle-tree.

AYONT, _prep._ beyond.

AY, _adv._ yes.

--B--

BABIE, BAWBIE, _s._ a halfpenny.

BACHLE, BAUCHLE, _s._ an old shoe or slipper.

BACKLINS, _adv._ backwards. _To gae backlins_, to walk backwards, like a ropemaker.

BACKSPANG, _s._ a trick, or legal quirk; advantage taken by one over another.

_To_ BACK-SPEIR, _v. a._ to trace a report as far back as possible; to cross-question.

BACK-SPEIRER, _s._ a cross-examiner.

BADE, _pret_. of bide.

BADRANS, BATHRONS, _s._ a designation for a cat.

_To_ BAE, _v. n_. to bleat like sheep.

_To_ BAFF, _v. a_. to beat.

BAFF, _s._ a stroke or blow.

BAIKIE, _s._ the stake to which a cow is fastened in the stall.

BAILIE, _s._ an alderman; the deputy of a baron in a borough of barony.

BAIR, BAR, _s._ a boar.

BAIRD, _s._ a bard or poet.

BAIRN, BARNE, _s._ a child.

BAIRNHEID, _s._ childhood.

BAIRNLY, _adj._ childish.

BAIRNLINESS, _s._ childishness.

BAIRNS-MAID, _s._ a nursery-maid.

BAIS, _adj._ having a deep or hollow sound: bass.

_To_ BAYT, _v. n_. to feed.

BAISEE, BAIVIE, _s._ a large fire; a great blaze.

BAKE, _s._ a biscuit.

BAKSTER, BAXSTER, _s._ a baker.

BALD, BAULD, _adj._ bold; intrepid.

BALDERDASH, _s._ foolish noisy nonsense.

BALK, BURRAL, _s._ an elevated ridge, raised by a plough.

BALLANT, _s._ a ballad; a song.

BALOW, BALOO, _s._ a lullaby; a term used by nurses when lulling children.

_To_ BAN, BANN, _v. a._ to curse.

BANNIN, _pr. pa_. swearing.

BANDKYN, _s._ a species of cloth, the warp of which is thread of gold and the woof silk, and adorned with figures.

BANDSTER, BANSTER, _s._ one who binds sheaves after the reapers in the harvest field.

BANE, _s._ a bone.

BANE-FYER, _s._ a bonfire.

_To_ BANG, _v. a_. to change place with impetuosity-- as, _to bang up_, to start to our feet suddenly.

BANNOCK, _s._ a cake of barley or pease meal baked on a girdle.

BANNOCK-FLUKE, _s._ a turbot.

BAP, _s._ a thick cake, baked in an oven, with yeast in it, and made of flour, oat meal, or barley meal, and sometimes a mixture of two of them.

BARE, _adj._ lean; meagre; naked; uncovered.

_To_ BARKEN, _v. n_. to become hard; to clot.

BARLA-BREIKIS, BURLEY-BRAKS, _s._ a game played in a corn-yard, running round the stacks.

BARLEY, _s._ a term used by children in games, when a truce, or a cessation for the time, is demanded.

BARNE. See BAIRN.

BASSIE, _s._ an old horse.

BASTOUN, _s._ a heavy staff; a baton.

BAITH, _adj._ both.

BATIE, BAWTIE, _s._ a name applied to dogs, generally large ones, without reference to sex.

BATS, _s. pl._ the bots, a disease in horses.

_To_ BATTER, _v. a_. to paste.

BAUCHLE, BACHEL, _s._ an old shoe.

BAUGH, _adj._ ungrateful to the taste.

BAUK, BAWK, _s._ a cross beam in the roof of a house.

BAUK, BAWK, _s._ a strip of land, two or three feet wide, left unploughed.

BAUSY, _adj._ strong; big.

_To_ BAW, _v. a_. to hush; to lull in the manner of nursing a child.

BAW, _s._ a ball.

BAWBEE, a halfpenny.

BAWDEKYN, _s._ cloth of gold.

BAXTER, _s._ a baker.

BEAR, BERE, _s._ barley.

_To_ BECK, _v_. to curtsey.

BEDRAL, _s._ a person who is bedrid.

BEGRUTTEN, _part. pa._ having the face disfigured with weeping.

BEIK, BIKE, _s._ a hive of bees.

BEIK, BEKE, BEEK, _v. a_. to bask, as in the sun.

BEILD, BIELD, _s._ shelter; refuge.

BEIN, BANE, _s._ bone.

BIRR, _s._ noise; cry; force.

BEKE, BEIK, BEEK, _v. a._ to bask.

BELD, _adj._ bald; without hair on the head.

BELE, _s._ a fire; a blaze.

BELYVE, _adv._ by and by.

_To_ BELL THE CAT, to contend with a person of superior rank; to withstand him, either by actions or words, especially the former.

BELLY-THRA, _s._ the colic.

_To_ BELT, _v. a._ to gird; to flog; to scourge.

BEN, _adv._ towards the inner apartments of a house. A room is generally called _ben_, and the kitchen _but_.

BEN-END, _s. the ben-end of a house_, the inner end of it.

BEN, BIN, _s._ a mountain.

BENE, BIEN, _adj._ wealthy; having abundance.

BENK, BINK, _s._ a bench; a seat.

BENORTH, _prep._ to the northward of.

BENSHIE, BENSHI, _s._ a fairy's wife.

BENT, _s._ a coarse grass growing on sand-hills.

BERE, BEAR, _s._ barley.

BERN, _s._ a barn.

_To_ BESEIK, _v. a._ to beseech; to entreat.

BESYNE, BYSIM, _s._ a bawd.

BESOUTH, _prep_, to the southward of.

BEST-MAN, _s._ groomsman; _best-maid_, the bridesmaid.

BETWEESH, _prep_, betwixt.

BEUCH, a branch; a bough.

BEVIE, _s._ a great fire.

_To_ BEWRY, _v. a._ to pervert, to distort.

BIB, _s._ a piece of linen used to keep the breast of a child clean when feeding it.

BICK, _s._ a bitch; the female of the canine species.

_To_ BICKER, _v. a._ to fight with stones as schoolboys; to run off quickly.

BICKER, BIQUOUR, _s._ a small wooden dish, made in the form of a washing-tub, the staves being alternately black and white.

_To_ BIDE, BYDE, _v. n._ to wait for; to abide; to endure; to suffer.

_To_ BIG, _v. a._ to build.

BIGGIN, BYGGYN, _s._ a building.

BIGGIT, _part. pa._ built.

BIKE, BEIK, BINK, _s._ a nest of wild bees or wasps.

BILGET, _adj._ bulged; swelling out.

BILLIE, BILLY, _s._ a companion; a comrade.

BINDWOOD, _s._ ivy.

BING, _s._ a heap; a pile of wood.

BINK. See BIKE.

BIRD, BURD, _s._ a bird; a damsel; a lady.

BIRDIE, _s._ a little bird.

BIRK, _s._ a birch-tree.

_To_ BIRK, _v. n._ to give a tart or sharp answer.

BIRKIN, _adj._ of or belonging to birch-wood.

BIRKY, _s._ a lively young man; a mettlesome person.

BIRL, _v. n_. to ply with drink; to club money for the purpose of purchasing drink.

BIRN, _v. a._ to burn.

BIRS, BIRSE, _s._ a bristle. _His birse is up_, he is in a passion. _He's a birsie man_, he is liable to be irritated easily.

_To_ BIRSLE, _v. a._ to broil; to roast.

BIRSSY, _adj._ having bristles; hot-tempered.

_To_ BIRZE, BRIZE, _v. a._ to bruise; to drive or push.

BISKET, BRISKET, _s._ the breast.

_To_ BISSE, BIZZ, _v. n_. to make a hissing sound, as hot iron plunged into water.

BISSOME, BYSSYM, _s._ an unworthy female.

BIT, _s._ a vulgar term used for food. _He takes the bit and the buffit wi't_, he takes the food and the blow along with it.

BITTILL, BEETLE, _s._ a wooden mallet for beating clothes.

_To_ BLABBER, _v. n._ to babble; to speak indistinctly.

BLACKAVICED, _a_. dark-complexioned.

BLACK-COCK, _s._ the black grouse.

BLACK-FISHING, _s._ fishing for salmon by torch light.

BLACK-FOOT, _s._ a person who makes matches, or goes between a lover and his mistress.

BLAD, _s._ a large piece of anything.

BLADE, _s._ the leaf of a tree.

BLADOCH, BLEDOCH, _s._ buttermilk.

BLAE, BLA, _adj._ livid; used when the skin is discoloured with a blow, or when chilled with cold.

BLAEBERRY, _s._ the bilberry.

BLAIDRY, _s._ nonsense; folly; silly talk.

BLAIN, _s._ a mark or blemish left by a wound.

BLAIT, _adj._ bashful; sheepish.

BLAIT-MOUIT, _adj._ sheepish; ashamed to open one's mouth, or speak. _ Ye'r no blait_, you are very forward or impudent--used metaphorically.

BLAITIE-BUM, _s._ a stupid, simple fellow.

BLASH, _s._ a heavy fall of rain.

BLASHY, _adj._ deluging, sweeping away, as in a flood; thin, poor, as applied to broth or soup.

_To_ BLAST, _v. n._ to smoke. _To take a blast_, to take a smoke.

BLATE, BLAIT, _adj._ bashful.

_To_ BLATHER, _v. n._ to talk nonsense; to talk ridiculously.

BLATTER, _s_, a rattling noise, such as that made by a heavy shower of rain or hail.

_To_ BLAW, _v_. to blow.

BLEAR, _s._ to obscure the sight.

BLEARD, _s._ dull of sight; having inflamed eyes.

BLEEZE, _v. n_. milk is said to be bleezed when it has become a little sour.

BLEIB, _s._ a pustule, a blister.

_The_ BLEIBS, _s. pl._ the chicken-pox.

_To_ BLENK, BLINK, _v. n._ to open the eyes as after slumber; to throw a glance of regard.

BLENK, BLINK, _s._ a gleam of light.

BLENT, _s._ a glance as in the quick motions of the eye.

_To_ BLETHER, _v. n._ to stammer, or speak indistinctly, or nonsensically.

BLIN, _adj._ blind.

BLINK. See BLENK.

_To_ BLIRT, _v. n._ to burst out a-crying or weeping.

BLOB, BLAB, _s._ 1. anything circular and turned; 2. a blister.

BLOBBIT, _part. pa._ bloated; blurred; blotched.

BLUBBER, _s._ a bubble of air.

_To_ BLUBBER, _v. a._ to cry, to weep.

BLUE-GOWN, _s._ a pensioner. Formerly all pensioners received a blue gown on the king's birthday.

BLUID, _s._ blood.

BLUIDY, _adj._ bloody; bloodthirsty; covered with gore.

BLUITER, BLUTTER, _v. n._ to make a rumbling noise.

BLUNTIE, _s._ a stupid fellow; a sniveller.

BOAL, BOLE, _s._ a small aperture or press in a house for the reception of small articles; a small opening in a wall for the admission of light or air.

BOB, _s._ a curtsey.

_To_ BOCK, _v. a._ to make a noise with the throat, as persons will frequently do before vomiting.

BOD, BODDY, _s._ a person of diminutive stature.

BODDUM, _s._ bottom.

Elsewhere on the shelf