Page:Studies in Lowland Scots - Colville - 1909.djvu/266

242 Aumous, alms, almesse; Pr. aumône. "She held up her greedy gab, Just like an amous dish."—"Beggars."

Awmrie, a cupboard; almonry, aumônerie. Almerieclos, in old Arbroath, stood on the site of the Court where was the awmrie or treasury of the Abbey.

Cadie—"E'en cowe the cadie" (Ch. Fox).—"Earnest Cry," Fr. cadet.

Castocks, kale stocks or runts; as if for chou-stocks, from Fr. chou, a cabbage; Lat. caulis. Stock is, of course, of native origin.

Corbie—"Corbies and clergy are a shot richt kittle."—"Brigs of Ayr." Fr. corbeau. Compare the "corbie-stepped" gable of old houses.

Dool, Fr. deuil, mourning. "O' a' the numerous human dools, Ill hairsts, daft bargains, cutty stools."—"Toothache."

Douce—"Ye dainty deacons, an' ye douce conveneers. To whom our moderns are but causey cleaners."—"Brigs of Ayr." Fr. doux, douce; chaussée.

Dour, Fr. dur, hard. "When biting Boreas, fell and dour."—"Winter Night."

Dyvour, a debtor; Fr. devoir. "Crash them a' to spails. An rot the dyvors i' the jails!"—"To Beelzebub."

Gree, prize; Fr. gré, grade, rank, degree; Sc. to bear the gree. "Where glorious Wallace aft bure the gree."—"To Wm. Simson."

Gusty, Fr. goût. "An' just a wee drap spiritual burn in, An' gusty sucker."—"Scotch Drink."

Hotch, to fidget. "Even Satan glowred, and fidged fou fain. And hotched and blew wi' might and main."—"Tam o' Shanter." Hocher, to jog, shake, toss.

Joctelegs, knives, from Jacques de Liege, famous cutler. "An' gif the castocks sweet or sour, Wi' joctelegs they taste them."—"Hallowe'en."

Mell, Fr. mêler, to mingle. "It sets you ill Wi' bitter, dearthfu' wines to mell our foreign gill."—"Scotch Drink."

Tawpie, foolish, thoughtless young folks; taupe, talpo, a mole. "Now gawkies, tawpies, gowks, and fools, Frae colleges and boarding schools, May sprout like simmer puddock stools, In glen or shaw."—Verses written at Selkirk. Gawkie; Fr. gauche; gowk, the cuckoo.