Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 3 1885.djvu/61

Rh The Irish Channel is called "the Dib," i.e. the Pool; and "To cross the Dib" means to go to Ireland.—(West of Scotland.)

Among sailors the Atlantic bears the name of "the Pond"; and "To cross the Pond," in sailor language, signifies to go to America.

The sea is sometimes called '"the Water," which is used in such expressions as: "The boats is o' the water"; "They hinna been o' the water for aucht days."

When the sea is calm it is said to be "quiet as a lam; and when it is very stormy it is said to be "roarin like a lion."

When a man is very drunk he is said to be "as fou's the Baltic," or "as fou's the sea."

When a man is very thirsty he sometimes uses the expression: "I am sae thirsty I cud drink the sea."

A usual question about Keith was: "Faht's the hicht o' absurdity?" and the answer was: "T' try t' demm the sea wi' a pitch-fork, or bar the door wi' a boilt carrot."

About the same place a common proverb was: "Little helps, as the vran (wren) Said finn she p i' the sea."

The phosphorescence of the sea goes by various names:—

Fire.—(Cairnbulg.)

Fire-burn.—(Rosehearty, Pittulie.)

Sea-fire.—(Rosehearty, Pittulie.)

Water-burn.—(Rosehearty, Pennan. )

Water-fire.—(Pennan.)

Water-lamp.—(Crovie, Pennan, Pittulie.)

When it is seen during a dark night on the breast of the roll, or on the water as it breaks on the rocks, it is looked upon as an indication of coming foul weather.

The roll or swell that precedes a storm is called:—

The dracht.—(Pittulie.)

The dog afore his maister.—(Macduff, Pennan, Rosehearty, Pittulie.)

The sheep afore the dog.—(Pittulie.)

The roll, after the storm has abated, is called "the dog ahin his maister."—(Macduff.)

There were, not very many years ago, those that pretended to fore-