by Robert Burns
Gilpey, young girl.
Gimmer, a young ewe.
Gin, if, should, whether; by.
Girdle, plate of metal for firing cakes, bannocks.
Girn, to grin, to twist the face (but from pain or rage, not joy); gapes; snarls.
Gizz, wig.
Glaikit, foolish, thoughtless, giddy.
Glaizie, glossy, shiny.
Glaum’d, grasped.
Gled, a hawk, a kite.
Gleede, a glowing coal.
Gleg, nimble, sharp, keen-witted.
Gleg, smartly.
Glieb, a portion of land.
Glib-gabbet, smooth-tongued.
Glint, sparkle.
Gloamin, twilight; gloamin-shot, sunset.
Glow’r, stare.
Glunch, frown, growl.
Goavin, looking dazedly; mooning.
Gotten, got.
Gowan, the wild, or mountain, daisy.
Gowany, covered with wild daisies.
Gowd, gold.
Gowdie, the head.
Gowff’d, struck, as in the game of golf.
Gowk, the cuckoo, a dolt.
Gowling, lamenting (as a dog in grief).
Graff, a grave, a vault.
Grain’d, groaned.
Graip, a dung-fork.
Graith, implements, gear; furniture; attire.
Graithing, gearing, vestments.
Grane, groan.
Grannie, graunie, grandmother.
Grape, grope.
Grat, wept.
Gree, the prize (degree).
Gree, to agree.
Greet, to weep.
Groanin maut, groaning malt, brewed for a lying-in.
Grozet, a gooseberry.
Grumphie, the pig.
Grun’, the ground.
Gruntle, the face.
Gruntle, dim. of grunt.
Grunzie, growing.
Grutten, wept.
Gude, God.
Guid, gude, good.
Guid-e’en, good evening.
Guid-father, father-in-law.
Guid-man, husband.
Guid-wife, mistress of the house.
Guid-willie, hearty, full of good-will.
Gullie, gully, a large knife.
Gulravage, riotous play.
Gumlie, muddy.
Gumption, wisdom.
Gusty, tasty.
Gutcher, goodsire, grandfather.
H
Ha’, hall.
Ha’ folk, the servants.
Haddin, holding, inheritance.
Hae, have.
Haet, a thing.
Haffet, hauffet, the temple, the side of the head.
Haffets, side-locks.
Hafflins, half, partly.
Hag, a moss, a broken bog.
Haggis, a special Scots pudding, made of sheep’s lungs, liver and heart, onions and oatmeal, boiled in a sheep’s stomach.
Hain, to spare, to save.
Hairst, har’st, harvest.
Haith, faith (an oath).
Haivers, v. havers.
Hal’, hald, holding, possession.
Hale, hail, the whole.
Hale, health.
Hale, hail, whole, healthy.
Halesome, wholesome.
Hallan, a partition wall, a porch, outer door.
Halloween, All Saints’ Eve (31st of October).
Hallowmas, All Saints’ Day (1st of November).
Haly, holy.
Hame, home.
Han’, haun, hand.
Han-darg, v. darg.
Hand-wal’d, hand-picked (i. e., choicest).
Hangie, hangman (nickname of the Devil).
Hansel, the first gift; earnest.
Hap, a wrap, a covering against cold.
Hap, to shelter.
Hap, to hop.
Happer, hopper (of a mill).
Hap-step-an’-lowp, hop-step-and-jump.
Harkit, hearkened.
Harn, coarse cloth.
Hash, an oaf.
Haslock woo, the wool on the neck of a sheep.
Haud, to hold, to keep.
Hauf, half.
Haughs, low-lying rich lands by a river.
Haun, v. han’.
Haurl, to trail.
Hause, cuddle, embrace.
Haveril, hav’rel, one who talks nonsense.
Havers, nonsense.
Havins, manners, conduct.
Hawkie, a white-faced cow; a cow.
Heal, v. hale.
Healsome, v. halesome.
Hecht, to promise; threaten.
Heckle, a flax-comb.
Heels-o’er-gowdie, v. gowdie.
Heeze, to hoist.
Heich, heigh, high.
Hem-shin’d, crooked-shin’d.
Herd, a herd-boy.
Here awa, hereabout.
Herry, to harry.
Herryment, spoliation.
Hersel, herself.
Het, hot.
Heugh, a hollow or pit; a crag, a steep bank.
Heuk, a hook.
Hilch, to hobble.
Hiltie-skiltie, helter-skelter.
Himsel, himself.
Hiney, hinny, honey.
Hing, to hang.
Hirple, to move unevenly; to limp.
Hissels, so many cattle as one person can attend (R. B.).
Histie, bare.
Hizzie, a hussy, a wench.
Hoast, cough.
Hoddin, the motion of a sage countryman riding on a cart-horse (R. B.).
Hoddin-grey, coarse gray woolen.
Hoggie, dim. of hog; a lamb.
Hog-score, a line on the curling rink.
Hog-shouther, a kind of horse-play by jostling with the shoulder; to jostle.
Hoodie-craw, the hooded crow, the carrion crow.
Hoodock, grasping, vulturish.
Hooked, caught.
Hool, the outer case, the sheath.
Hoolie, softly.
Hoord, hoard.
Hoordet, hoarded.
Horn, a horn spoon; a comb of horn.
Hornie, the Devil.
Host, v. hoast.
Hotch’d, jerked.
Houghmagandie, fornication.
Houlet, v. howlet.
Houpe, hope.
Hove, swell.
Howdie, howdy, a midwife.
Howe, hollow.
Howk, to dig.
Howlet, the owl.
Hoyse, a hoist.
Hoy’t, urged (R. B.).
Hoyte, to amble crazily (R. B.).
Hughoc, dim. of Hugh.
Hullions, slovens.
Hunder, a hundred.
Hunkers, hams.
Hurcheon, the hedgehog.
Hurchin, urchin.
Hurdies, the loins, the crupper (R. B.) (i. e., the buttocks).
Hurl, to trundle.
Hushion, a footless stocking.
Hyte, furious.
I
I’, in.
Icker, an ear of corn.
Ier-oe, a great-grandchild.
Ilk, ilka, each, every.
Ill o’t, bad at it.
Ill-taen, ill-taken.
Ill-thief, the Devil.
Ill-willie, ill-natured, niggardly.
Indentin, indenturing.
Ingine, genius, ingenuity; wit.
Ingle, the fire, the fireside.
Ingle-cheek, fireside (properly the jamb of the fireplace).
Ingle-lowe, ingle-low, flame of the fire.
I’se, I shall, or will.
Itsel’, itself.
Ither, other, another.
J
Jad, a jade.
Janwar, January.
Jauk, to trifle, to dally.
Jauner, gabber.
Jauntie, dim. of jaunt.
Jaup, splash.
Jaw, talk, impudence.
Jaw, to throw, to dash.
Jeeg, to jog.
Jillet, a jilt.
&nbs
p; Jimp, small, slender.
Jimply, neatly.
Jimps, stays.
Jink, the slip.
Jink, to frisk, to sport, to dodge.
Jinker, dodger (coquette); a jinker noble; a noble goer.
Jirkinet, bodice.
Jirt, a jerk.
Jiz, a wig.
Jo, a sweetheart.
Jocteleg, a clasp-knife.
Jouk, to duck, to cover, to dodge.
Jow, to jow, a verb which included both the swinging motion and pealing sound of a large bell (R. B.).
Jumpet, jumpit, jumped.
Jundie, to jostle.
Jurr, a servant wench.
K
Kae, a jackdaw.
Kail, kale, the colewort; cabbage; Scots’ broth.
Kail-blade, the leaf of the colewort.
Kail-gullie, a cabbage knife.
Kail-runt, the stem of the colewort.
Kail-whittle, a cabbage knife.
Kail-yard, a kitchen garden.
Kain, kane, rents in kind.
Kame, a comb.
Kebars, rafters.
Kebbuck, a cheese; a kebbuck heel = the last crust of a cheese.
Keckle, to cackle, to giggle.
Keek, look, glance.
Keekin-glass, the looking-glass.
Keel, red chalk.
Kelpies, river demons.
Ken, to know.
Kenna, know not.
Kennin, a very little (merely as much as can be perceived).
Kep, to catch.
Ket, the fleece on a sheep’s body.
Key, quay.
Kiaugh, anxiety.
Kilt, to tuck up.
Kimmer, a wench, a gossip; a wife.
Kin’, kind.
King’s-hood, the 2d stomach in a ruminant (equivocal for the scrotum).
Kintra, country.
Kirk, church.
Kirn, a churn.
Kirn, harvest home.
Kirsen, to christen.
Kist, chest, counter.
Kitchen, to relish.
Kittle, difficult, ticklish, delicate, fickle.
Kittle, to tickle.
Kittlin, kitten.
Kiutlin, cuddling.
Knaggie, knobby.
Knappin-hammers, hammers for breaking stones.
Knowe, knoll.
Knurl, knurlin, dwarf.
Kye, cows.
Kytes, bellies.
Kythe, to show.
L
Laddie, dim. of lad.
Lade, a load.
Lag, backward.
Laggen, the bottom angle of a wooden dish.
Laigh, low.
Laik, lack.
Lair, lore, learning.
Laird, landowner.
Lairing, sticking or sinking in moss or mud.
Laith, loath.
Laithfu’, loathful, sheepish.
Lallan, lowland.
Lallans, Scots Lowland vernacular.
Lammie, dim. of lamb.
Lan’, land.
Lan’-afore, the foremost horse on the unplowed land side.
Lan’-ahin, the hindmost horse on the unplowed land side.
Lane, lone.
Lang, long.
Lang syne, long since, long ago.
Lap, leapt.
Lave, the rest.
Laverock, lav’rock, the lark.
Lawin, the reckoning.
Lea, grass, untilled land.
Lear, lore, learning.
Leddy, lady.
Lee-lang, live-long.
Leesome, lawful.
Leeze me on, dear is to me; blessings on; commend me to.
Leister, a fish-spear.
Len’, to lend.
Leugh, laugh’d.
Leuk, look.
Ley-crap, lea-crop.
Libbet, castrated.
Licks, a beating.
Lien, lain.
Lieve, lief.
Lift, the sky.
Lift, a load.
Lightly, to disparage, to scorn.
Lilt, to sing.
Limmer, to jade; mistress.
Lin, v. linn.
Linn, a waterfall.
Lint, flax.
Lint-white, flax-colored.
Lintwhite, the linnet.
Lippen’d, trusted.
Lippie, dim. of lip.
Loan, a lane.
Loanin, the private road leading to a farm.
Lo’ed, loved.
Lon’on, London.
Loof (pl. looves), the palm of the hand.
Loon, loun, lown, a fellow, a varlet.
Loosome, lovable.
Loot, let.
Loove, love.
Looves, v. loof.
Losh, a minced oath.
Lough, a pond, a lake.
Loup, lowp, to leap.
Low, lowe, a flame.
Lowin, lowing, flaming, burning.
Lown, v. loon.
Lowp, v. loup.
Lowse, louse, to untie, let loose.
Lucky, a grandmother, an old woman; an ale wife.
Lug, the ear.
Lugget, having ears.
Luggie, a porringer.
Lum, the chimney.
Lume, a loom.
Lunardi, a balloon bonnet.
Lunches, full portions.
Lunt, a column of smoke or steam.
Luntin, smoking.
Luve, love.
Lyart, gray in general; discolored by decay or old age.
Lynin, lining.
M
Mae, more.
Mailen, mailin, a farm.
Mailie, Molly.
Mair, more.
Maist. most.
Maist, almost.
Mak, make.
Mak o’, make o’, to pet, to fondle.
Mall, Mally.
Manteele, a mantle.
Mark, merk, an old Scots coin (13 1–3d. sterling).
Mashlum, of mixed meal.
Maskin-pat, the teapot.
Maukin, a hare.
Maun, must.
Maunna, mustn’t.
Maut, malt.
Mavis, the thrush.
Mawin, mowing.
Mawn, mown.
Mawn, a large basket.
Mear, a mare.
Meikle, mickle, muckle, much, great.
Melder, a grinding corn.
Mell, to meddle.
Melvie, to powder with meal-dust.
Men’, mend.
Mense, tact, discretion, politeness.
Menseless, unmannerly.
Merle, the blackbird.
Merran, Marian.
Mess John, Mass John, the parish priest, the minister.
Messin, a cur, a mongrel.
Midden, a dunghill.
Midden-creels, manure-baskets.
Midden dub, midden puddle.
Midden-hole, a gutter at the bottom of the dunghill.
Milking shiel, the milking shed.
Mim, prim, affectedly meek.
Mim-mou’d, prim-lipped.
Min’, mind, remembrance.
Mind, to remember, to bear in mind.
Minnie, mother.
Mirk, dark.
Misca’, to miscall, to abuse.
Mishanter, mishap.
Mislear’d, mischievous, unmannerly.
Mistak, mistake.
Misteuk, mistook.
Mither, mother.
Mixtie-maxtie, confused.
Monie, many.
Mools, crumbling earth, grave.
Moop, to nibble, to keep close company, to meddle.
Mottie, dusty.
Mou’, the mouth.
Moudieworts, moles.
Muckle, v. meikle.
Muslin-kail, beefless broth.
Mutchkin, an English pint.
N
Na, nae, no, not.
Naething, naithing, nothing.
Naig, a nag.
Nane, none.
&nb
sp; Nappy, ale, liquor.
Natch, a notching implement; abuse.
Neebor, neibor, neighbor.
Needna, needn’t.
Neist, next.
Neuk, newk, a nook, a corner.
New-ca’d, newly driven.
Nick (Auld), Nickie-ben, a name of the Devil.
Nick, to sever; to slit; to nail, to seize away.
Nickie-ben, v. Nick.
Nick-nackets, curiosities.
Nicks, cuts; the rings on a cow’s horns.
Nieve, the fist.
Nieve-fu’, fistful.
Niffer, exchange.
Nit, a nut.
No, not.
Nocht, nothing.
Norland, northern.
Nowt, nowte, cattle.
O
O’, of.
O’erword, the refrain; catchword.
Onie, any.
Or, ere, before.
Orra, extra.
O’t, of it.
Ought, aught.
Oughtlins, aughtlins, aught in the least; at all.
Ourie, shivering, drooping.
Outler, unhoused.
Owre, over, too.
Owsen, oxen.
Owthor, author.
Oxter’d, held up under the arms.
P
Pack an’ thick, confidential.
Paidle, to paddle, to wade; to walk with a weak action.
Paidle, nail-bag.
Painch, the paunch.
Paitrick, a partridge; used equivocally of a wanton girl.
Pang, to cram.
Parishen, the parish.
Parritch, porridge.
Parritch-pats, porridge-pots.
Pat, pot.
Pat, put.
Pattle, pettle, a plow-staff.
Paughty, haughty.
Paukie, pauky, pawkie, artful, sly.
Pechan, the stomach.
Pechin, panting, blowing.
Penny-fee, wage in money.
Penny-wheep, small beer.
Pettle, v. pattle.
Philibeg, the Highlander’s kilt.
Phraisin, flattering, wheedling.
Phrase, to flatter, to wheedle.
Pickle, a few, a little.
Pint (Scots), three imperial pints.
Pit, put.
Placads, proclamations.
Plack, four pennies (Scots).
Plackless, penniless.
Plaiden, coarse woolen cloth.
Plaister, plaster.
Plenish’d, stocked.
Pleugh, plew, a plow.
Pliskie, a trick.
Pliver, a plover.
Pock, a poke, a bag, a wallet.
Poind, to seize, to distrain, to impound.
Poortith, poverty.
Pou, to pull.
Pouch, pocket.
Pouk, to poke.
Poupit, pulpit.
Pouse, a push.
Poussie, a hare (also a cat).
Pouther, powther, powder.
Pouts, chicks.
Pow, the poll, the head.
Pownie, a pony.
Pow’t, pulled.
Pree’d, pried (proved), tasted.
Preen, a pin.
Prent, print.
Prie, to taste.
Prief, proof.