Scotstober Week Two.

Week two. 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 08: Lang.

Two girls explaining to a discombobulated boy the rules of the game that they are playing with a big dog. In Scots: We’re hae’n a competition tae see hoo lang we can streek the dugs slaver frae its mou afore it braks. The langest distance oot o ten tries or tae when the dug gangs hame is the winner. Nae measurin via the droop, it’s gotta be a straicht measure. We’ve been feedin it brussels sproots. Translate: lang: long. In English: We’re having a competition to see how long we can stretch the dogs slobber from its mouth before it breaks. The longest distance out of ten tries or to when the dog goes home is the winner. No measuring via the droop, it’s gotta be a straight measure. We’ve been feeding it brussels sprouts. — Word 08 Scotstober. Lang: long

word 09: Haiver.

Servant with hot water bottle is disturbing his master in bed, pointing out the cottage window excitedly at aliens and a flying saucer.In Scots: “Awa an wheesht min, yir haiverin!” Translate: haiverin: talking foolishly. In English: “Go away and be silent man, you are speaking nonsense!” — Word 09 Scotstober. Haiver: to talk nonsense.

Word 10: Thole.

A seated Laird roped by the waist to a free-standing wicker chair is gesticulating at his worried looking manservant who is standing by holding a cord, the other end of which is attached to a big bag of bricks teetering on the edge of a low wall overlooking a sheer drop of great distance.In Scots: Ah canni thole this torture onie longer John. Dae yer duty. Tie yer unbrakable cord fast tae this damned tuith ahn kick the bricks oer the cliff. Dinni look sae worried MAN! Ahm no goin anywhere I'm weel yokit tae this chair by stout rope, cos for tae quote the Bard. "Where'er that place be priests ca' hell, Where a' the tones o' misery yell, And ranked plagues their numbers tell, In dreadfu' raw, Thou, Tooth-ache, surely bear'st the bell, Amang them a'!" Translate: thole: To suffer, to be subjected to or afflicted with, to have to bear or endure. In English: I cannot bear this torture any longer John. Do your duty. Tie your unbreakable cord fast to this damned tooth and kick the bricks over the cliff. Don't look so worried MAN! I'm not going anywhere I'm well tied to this chair by stout rope, because to quote the Bard. “ … “ — Word 01 Scotstober. Thole: To suffer, to be subjected to or afflicted with, to have to bear or endure.

Word 11: Bile:

A Rat sipping wine, a Dragon heating a kettle with its breath and a Unicorn knitting are sitting around a picnic on a pleasant summer's evening.In Scots: I think the kettle's bilin noo Sparky, onie mair heat and ye'll hae its erse melted awa. And whaur'll we be with oor tea perty then! Oot! Oot o tea. That's what. Noo pit yer bilet water intae the teapot - ahm gaspin for a cuppa and yin o thon cakes. Ahn in the future listen tae yer kettle, when it biles it sings. Translate: bile: boil In English: I think the kettle is boiling now Sparky, any more heat and you will melt away its bottom. And where will we be with our tea party then! Out! Out of tea. That's what. Now put your boiled water into the teapot - I'm gasping for a cuppa and one of these cakes. And in the future listen to your kettle, when it boils it sings. — Word 11 Scotstober. Bile: boil.

Word 12: Jouk.

Pugilists, one standing, one not, in the ring.In Scots: “Aw his joukin aboot wis a waste o space." Translate: jouk: duck, dodge, avoid. In English: “All his ducking and dodging about was without value and lacking in worth." — Word 12 Scotstober. Jouk: duck, dodge.

Word 13: Cuddy.

A distressed haggisean galloping along the hillside uttering its bagpippean call of distress pursued by a highlander on a small sturdy horse during the final stages of the hunt.In Scots: 'Mad Hielander on a canterin cuddy aboot tae lassoo the Haggis whilst in its bagpippean skirl of distress.' Translate: cuddy, cuddie: a horse, a short thick strong horse. In English: 'Insane Highlander upon a cantering horse about to lasso a Haggis while it is in the throes of its bagpippean piercing call of distress.' Haggis recipe. Use the legs, skin, beak and pistle to make bagpipes. Then stuff all the remaining meat and organs into the stomach of a sheep along with loads of spice. Tie it off with a stout knot and boil the lot until sterilised. Serve the result with mashed turnip and plenty of fresh ground black pepper. — Word 13 Scotstober. Cuddy: a horse, a short thick strong horse.

Word 14: Gowster.

Mouse on the mouse trap is narrowly missed by the spiked hammer swinging overhead resulting in skinned knuckles, toes and ears cropped short plus the cheese bait in its hands got chopped in two.In Scots: Oooyah! Ah thocht ye were a gowster for certie there Widdles. That wiz a close squeek, yir cheese is in twa. Translate: gowster: goner, turned into a ghost. In English: Oh my gosh! I thought you were a goner for certain there Widdles. That was a close squeak, your cheese is in two. — Word 14 Scotstober. Gowster: goner, turned into a ghost.

Word 15: Puddock.

A person being ill while leaning on a dyke while a toad relishes its breakfast of a greasy slug at the base of the wall.In Scots: ‘The diet of a puddock wid gar ye boke.' Translate: puddock: frog Rana or (in this illustration) toad Bufo vulgaris. In English: ‘The diet of a toad is enough to make one vomit.' — Word 15 Scotstober. Puddock: frog Rana or (in this illustration) toad Bufo vulgaris.

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.

Stooryduster-Blog

Stooryduster-Blog accompanying Scottish Words Illustrated.