RUN RIG. Under this system of agriculture the rigs in a field were held by different tenants, and were separated by a neutral piece of ground, called a bauk or balk, which was used as a receptacle for stones, weeds, etc. In time the balk so increased in width as in some cases to take up a third of the area of the field. This custom was once all but universal in Scotland, and still lingers in some parts of the Highlands. Compare, Mak nae bauks in gude bear land. RUSE the fairday at e'en. Commend not a thing or project till it has had its full effect.-Kelly. Praise day at night, and life at the end.-E. So, Manx, Italian, Ger. SACK and fork. S. i.e., fosa et furca—pit and gallows ; hanging and drowning. SAFE'S the word. Taken from the watchword given among soldiers.-Kelly. "SAFT beddin's gude for sair banes," quo' Howie, when he streeked himsel' on the midden head. "Saft's your horn, my friend," quo' the man, when he took haud o' the cuddy's lug. SAID the trout to the fluke, | When did your mou' crook? SAIR back and sair banes Drivin' the laird o' Morphie's stanes, The rhyme The family of Graham of Morphie, in Mearns, are popularly said to owe their extinction to the action of a water-kelpie, whom one of the lairds bridled with a pair of branks, and compelled to carry stones to build his castle. The kelpie, on being released, uttered the above malediction.-Chambers. SAIR cravers are aye ill payers. Compare, Ill payers, etc. SAIR forfairn. i.e., greatly exhausted. SAIR putten aboot. i.e., much annoyed. SAIR strokes and mony o' them. A jocose threatening which we design not to execute.-Kelly. SAIRS shouldna be sair handled. i.e., delicate subjects should be cautiously alluded to. SAIRY be your meal pock, and aye your neive i' the neuk o't. An uncharitable wish that you may come to want. SAIRY man, and then he grat. An ironical condolence of some slight misfortune.—Kelly. SALT water never harmed Zetlander. SATHANAS and Mammon are near akin. "Fortunes of Nigel," ch. 34. SANGUINARY James; also, Bloody Jemmie, and Mountain Pecker. A raw sheep's head. SATURDAY flit, | Short while sit. Saturday's flitting by North, Monday's flitting by South; had I but a lamb to move, 'tis on Monday I would go.-Gaelic. The Highlanders believe that the Deiseil, south or sunward, is the right direction.-Nicolson. Compare, Friday flit, etc. SATURDAY'S change, and Sunday's prime, Is enough in seven year's time. So Saturday's new, and Sunday's full, Was never fine, and never wool.-Suffolk. A Saturday's new and a Sunday's full moon used to be considered unlucky. "Saut," quo' the souter, when he had eaten a cow a' but the tail. Spoken to them that flag when they have almost finished a difficult task.-Kelly. SAVE US a'! An exclamation of surprise and terror. SAVE your breath to say your carritch. "Heart of Midlothian," ch. 20. T SAVE yoursel' frae the deil and the laird's bairns. A caution of poor people to their children how they meddle with their superiors, for, if they hurt the laird's bairns, they will be sure to be punished, but if hurt by them, they will get no right.-Kelly. Also in Gaelic. SAVING the ladies. This phrase refers to an old Scottish custom. home from balls, the gentlemen returned to the naming a lady, drained a glass in her honour. SAWNEY. See Jockey. SAW thin, shear thin. SAW wheat in dirt, and rye in dust. After seeing the ladies supper room, and each SAW ye that, and shotna at it, and ye sae gleg a gunner. A jeer at a boaster. SAYING gaes gude cheap. Talking pays no toll.-E. SAYS the Shochie to the Ordie, | Where shall we meet? These two streams fall into the Tay about five miles above Perth. Great Tay of the waters Shall sweep Perth bare refers to a predicted nocturnal inundation of the town by the Tay, SCANT o' grace hears lang preachings. SCANTY cheeks mak a lang nose. SCART the cog wad sup mair. That is, he who scrapes the dish is not satisfied. SCARTING and eating wants but a beginning.-Kelly. SCORN Comes commonly wi' skaith. Also in Gaelic and Manx. SCORN not the bush that bields you. SCORNFU' dogs eat dirty puddings. "Redgauntlet," Narrative, ch. 11. SCOT. Temper or passion, from the irascible temperament of the Scotch. Oh, what a Scot he was in ! i.e., what a temper he showed.-Slang Dictionary. SCOTCH Coffee." Slang Dictionary." Biscuits toasted and boiled in water.-Sea phrase. SCOTCH fiddle. The itch. "To play the Scotch fiddle" is to work the index finger of the right hand, like a fiddlestick, between the index and middle finger of the left. This greatly provokes a Scotchman, as it implies he is afflicted with the itch. The habitual use of oatmeal is supposed to be the cause of the liability of Scotsmen to skin diseases.—“ Slang Dictionary." SCOTCH Greys. Lice."Slang Dictionary." SCOTCH washing. Barelegged young women tramping blankets in boins or tubs. SCOTLAND is too cold a country for locusts, and too poor a country for thieves. "Quentin Durward," ch. 7. SCOTLAND yet. Henry Scott Riddell is the author of a well-known song having this proverbial expression as its title. "SCOTS grund," quo' Will o' Phaup. "One plash more," quo' Will o' Phaup. Will o' Phaup, one of the genuine Laidlaws of Craik, was born at that place in 1691. He was shepherd at Phaup for fifty-five years, and for feats of strength and agility he had no equal in his own day. Many of his sayings settled into regular proverbs or byewords. On one occasion, when crossing the Moffat water on horseback, behind a farmer, Will and his friend, who were both intoxicated, fell into the water, and were carried some distance down the stream. The farmer managed to reach the bank, but in dragging out Will, overbalanced himself and again fell into the river. Will, whose faculties were completely confused by the liquor and the ducking, did not know what to do, but hearing a great plunge, he made towards the place, calling out-" One plash more, sir, I have you." "One plash more," quo' Will o' Phaup. Scots grund," quo' Will o' Phaup. "A man drouned, and me here." Will ran to a stream, and took his station in the middle of the water, in hopes of feeling his drowning friend come against his legs, but the farmer got safely out by himself. - The Ettrick Shepherd, "The Shepherd's Calendar," Odd Characters-Will o' Phaup. 66 SCOTSMEN aye reckon frae an ill hour; and Scotsmen aye tak' their mark frae a mischief. A Scottish man solicited the Prince of Orange to be made an ensign, for he had been a sergeant ever since his highness ran away from Grole.-Kelly. SCOTSMEN tak a' they can get, and a little more if they can. Quoted as a saying about Scotsmen by Lord Advocate Macdonald in the House of Commons, March 6, 1888. SCOUR the duds o' Yetholm.-Roxburghshire. A reproach against the dirty habits of the Yetholm gipsies. There is also a tune named from this saying, and it is highly dangerous to utter the reproach or whistle the tune in any part of Yetholm.— Chambers. SEA gull, sea gull, sit on the sand, Its never good weather when you're on the land. SEEK muckle, and get something; seek little, and get naething. Compare, Bode for a silk gown, etc. SEEK your sa' where you got your ail, and beg your barm where you buy your ale. The reply of a person who is asked for assistance by one who formerly shunned him. SEIL (happiness) ne'er comes till sorrow be awa'. When bale is highest, boot is next.-E. SELF praise comes aye stinking ben. Self praise is no recommendation.-E. SEL, sel, has half filled hell. SEND your son to Ayr; if he do weel here, he'll do weel there. SEND you to the sea, and you'll no get saut water. Spoken when people foolishly come short of their errand.-Kelly. SER yoursel and your friends will think the mair o' ye. The reply of one who is asked a favour he is not disposed to grant. SER yoursel till your bairns come o' age. SET a lass on Tintock tap, Gin she hae the penny siller, The wind will blaw a man till her; There'll ne'er a ane be evened till her. |