Page:An Etymological Dictionary of the Norn Language in Shetland Part I.pdf/102

XCIV A Nursery-rhyme.

bokᶊɩna sᶄȯləna bjø̄da

Recorded in “The Home of a Naturalist” as follows:

Clapa clapa süda Boochsina schölina Bjöda Bauta deema kjota schin Swala clovena vjenta in Roompan pöman söda.

Another Nursery-rhyme (same source):

Bulva reeka tyo Tak laigen Slogan veggin Bulva reeka tyo.

tak an læggən slōgan væggən bøn vɩl ɩkkə ti̇̄æ.

Ek skal ᶊēra :|: trēv ɩ nēva an kasta band to.

A Cradle-song.

Vallilū ĕga sô$ə$r o a sig··alɩn· leka tu sa frūa a mōrnɩn a gɩb··əlɩn·

The introductory word “vallilu” is balow, hush-a-bye, in an extended form with a change of initial b to v. This must be a later addition, as the rhyme is of Norn origin, and has commenced with some Norn equivalent of balow. That Norn equivalent is probably seen in [so$ə$ro], which doubtless is the same word as (south-west ) “su-ru”, a word with which children are hushed asleep. After balow one might expect a pet name for a little child,