Scotstober Week Three.

Week three. Each October a list, one for each day of 30 Scottish words, is published. Scotstober as an event is for fun, inviting anyone to have a go and publish the result on social media under the hashtag #Scotstober.

It can be a drawing, sculpture, poem, collage, blog entry, song, joke, story, comic, or whatever the day’s word inspires you to make. Do Scotstober every day of October or just the days that take your fancy. There are no rules.

Word 16: Howff.

Crypt lid, quilted, insulated and soundproofed on the inside, is held open in the early morning dark in the Dundee Howff by an attendant as a figure descends its stairs into the electric lit up to date equipped depths.In Scots: It's a heid scratcher tae aw o us, o immortal Lord, why ye settled yer secret eternal abode doonstairs in The Howff, it's got mair deid bodies than ye can shak a stick at. And it's owerleuked aw weys an there's aye some jakey or ither cuttin aboot in here no matter the day or the oor. Mind you, yer trust fund has kept us in marmalade oer the generations so massell and my descendants wul speir ye nane ahn we'll aye be here tae attend tae ye on yer annual October outings. But I suspect yer plans tae place solar panels on the roof o the crypts and wind generators tae replace the urns oan the pillars is going tae draw unwanted attention. Especially in Dundee. Translate: howff: An enclosed open space, a yard, in Dundee a particular old graveyard in the city centre. In English: It's a puzzle to all of us, oh immortal Lord, why you settled your secret eternal abode downstairs in The Howff, it's got more dead bodies than you can shake a stick at. And it's overlooked all ways and there's always some odd-body or other cutting about in here whatever the day or the hour. However, your trust fund has kept us in marmalade over the generations so me and my descendants wont ask any questions and we will always be here to attend to you on your annual October outings. But I suspect your plans to place solar panels on the roof of the crypts and wind generators to replace the urns on the pillars is going to draw unwanted attention. Especially in Dundee. — Word 16 Scotstober. Howff: An enclosed open space, a yard, in Dundee a particular old graveyard in the city centre.

Word 17: Lum.

Chimney sweeps on a very extensive set of roofs in a multiple choice situation.In Scots: “LISTEN! Ye jist roar queen mum doon each lum till ye hear big Erchie roar back." Translate: lum: chimney, chimney stack. In English: “LISTEN! You just shout queen mum loudly down each chimney until you hear big Archibald shout back." — Word 17 Scotstober. Lum: chimney, chimney stack.

Word 18: Tuim.

Two old furry alien guru professor types peering rudely either side into the ears of a sturdy young student held between them.In Scots: His heid's as tuim as we thoucht, ah can see the daylicht glintin aff yer ee Prof. Yet he's got the hauns o an ertist ahn the nieves o a fechter. So dae we pit him in the ert academy or the boxin academy? Translate: toom tuim: empty. In English: His head's as empty as we thought, I can see the daylight glinting off your eye Prof. Yet he's got the hands of an artist and the fists of a fighter. So do we put him in the art academy or the boxing academy? — Word 18 Scotstober. Tuim: empty.

Word 19: Squint.

Lord of the manor in the great hall complaining his family portraits very high up on the very high wall are not hung just right.In Scots: Weel done min, Captain Frumpsqualler the first is noo straicht jist like ye straichtened Skew Bazzer Whiffington ahn the ithers, but ah see Baw Graip Clatterbutt the third is noo the squint yin. Ye'll hae tae toddle up the ledder agin. The fourth jobbie in frae left as ye can see. I'm takin tint o yiz taking doon the ledder iviry time. Ye weel ken mha skelly ee disni tak distraction weel. Ye'll no be forgotten when ye get yer annual day aff at Christmas. Translate: squint: not aligned, off the square. In English: Well done my man, Captain Frumpsqualler the first is now straight just as you have straightened Skew Bazzer Whiffington and the others, but I see Baw Graip Clatterbutt the third is now the misaligned one. You shall have to toddle up the ladder again. It is the simple task of the fourth in from the left as you can see. I am taking note of you two taking the ladder down every time. You certainly appreciate that my awkward eye does not take distractions well. You will not be forgotten when you get your annual day off at Christmas. — Word 19 Scotstober. Squint: not aligned, off the square.

Word 20: Heilan.

Para Handy the captain and his engineer Mr McPhail are talking to a cattle dealer as a skinny cow looks on and the good ship The Vital Spark sits on the mudflats in the background of a low tide evening - as Glasgow puffers do.“If I wass buyin' a coo it wouldna be wan you could hang your hat on in fifty places. No, no, Peter, I'm Hielan', but I'm no' so Hielan' ass aal that.” Para Handy The Vital Spark by Neil Munro. Translate: heilan: highland, highlander; of or from the mountainous parts of Scotland, not defined, or described by any precise limits and also the habit, customs, manners, and languages of the area. “If I was buying a cow it would not be one that you could hang your hat on in fifty places. No, no, Peter, I may be regarded as simple, but I'm not so simple as all that.” — Word 20 Scotstober. Heilan: highland, highlander; of or from the mountainous parts of Scotland, not defined, or described by any precise limits and also the habit, customs, manners, and languages of the area.

Word 21: Sook.

Even the toughest employer rebels against a too keen, too good, too hungry employee."Ah've heard o sookin in wi the boss Smithers but this is takin it ower far. Yir fired!" Translate: sook: sycophant, crawler, toady, to fawn and flatter. "I have heard of sucking up to the boss Smithers but this is taking it too far. You're fired!" — Word 21 Scotstober. Sook: sycophant, crawler, toady, to fawn and flatter.

Word 22: Heid.

Woodcutters trapped in a tree by a ferocious Scottish woodland bird."Yon Capercaillie's totally lost the heid." Translate: heid: head. "That Capercaillie there has totally lost any sense it had in its fit of fury." The Gaelic name for this species, capall-coille, means ‘horse of the forest’. And they will chase you in the breeding season. — Word 22 Scotstober. Heid: head.

Scotstober 2024.

Week one: 1 tyne, 2 dicht, 3 noo, 4 haar, 5 clype, 6 boak, 7 tap.
Week two: 8 lang, 9 haiver, 10 thole, 11 bile, 12 jouk, 13 cuddie, 14 gowster, 15 puddock.
Week three: 16 howff, 17 lum, 18 tuim, 19 squint, 20 heilan, 21 sook, 22 heid.
Week four: 23 gled, 24 coo, 25 ben, 26 knap, 27 toon, 28 poke, 29 forret, 30 smirr, 31 neep, tumshie, baigie.

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Stooryduster-Blog accompanying Scottish Words Illustrated.