Spik

/AH-ber-not/

knot charged with supernatural power

“She tied an aaberknot roond the bairn's wrist.”

/AYRT-BARK/

roots of the tormentil plant

“Ah fand aert bark oan da moor.”

/AIRT-BEEL/

soft, waterlogged patch that gives way

“Mind yer fit, there's aert bile by the burn.”

/AF-KUT-inz/

cow's hind leg jointed sections

“Da coo's affcuttins are sair.”

/AFF-rug/

rush of water returning seaward after waves

“Da affrug gaes ower da stane.”

/AM-er-SWAK/

restless, unsettled state of agitation

“Ther's ammerswak amang da folk.”

/ANG-ker/

traditional Shetland liquid measure about 38 litres

“Gie's an anker o whisky.”

/ANZ/

heavier fragments of chaff and straw

“Gie the anns tae the kye”

/AN-ee-ster/

young female sheep not yet lambed

“Da anyister's aw skairt o' the collie.”

/AYZ/

large bright flame or burning fire

“Fowk gaed oot tae see da aze.”

/BAYN/

heavy leather for shoe soles

“A'll stitch the bain on the shoon”

/BAR-bur/

cold sea-mist that freezes nearby surfaces

“Barber's comin' in frae th' voe.”

/BAHRK/

root used for tanning leather

“She keeps a wee bark for da leathers.”

/BEL/

to become infected and form pus

“Da wee cut's gaen tae bell.”

/BEL-TAYN-REE/

brief stormy spell in early May

“Ah saw a beltane ree this morn.”

/BEND/

complete harness for a peat pony

“Pit the bend oan the pony an we'll awa tae the peat.”

/BIR-luh/

person who spins or twirls objects

“Yon birler aye maks folk laff.”

/BIS-mar/

wooden balancing beam used in scales

“Gie me the bismar tae weeg the butter.”

/BLED-ik/

Sour liquid remaining after churning butter

“Gie's a sup o' bleddick.”

/BLEE-b/

small air bubble in liquid

“Ah saw a wee blibe in ma tea.”

/BLOO-lit/

deep indigo dye for cloth

“A'll daub the sark wi' blue litt.”

/BLOO-MEL-tet/

blue-black bruise from a blow

“He cam hame blue meltet efter a fa'.”

/BLEE-DE-MAIT/

first meal after childbirth

“We gied her a blyde maet whan she was up an aboot.”

/BLEE-duh-ness/

cheerful, contented happiness and pleasure

“Da bairn's blydeness fillt da hoose.”

/BON-frost/

period of exceptionally severe freezing weather

“Yon bonfrost haes frozen the burn clean oot.”

/BOOL/

Arched carry-handle for kettle or pail

“Grip the bool an haud it weel.”

/BRANKS/

mumps; leather nose halter for calves

“A've put the branks oan the wee calf.”

/BREN-uh-STYOOCH/

fine sea spray from crashing waves

“Ah got brennastyooch on ma face doon by da voe.”

/BRIG-dee/

large slow pelagic filter-feeding shark

“Aw saw a brigdi oot by the voe.”

/BRIND/

To mate animals for breeding

“Da rams'll brind wi da ewes.”

/BRUK/

past form of 'break'

“He brook da aul chair yestreen.”

/BROSS-kee/

piece of nasal cartilage or gristle

“Ther's a bröski in the haddie.”

/BUG-ee-FLAY/

skin a sheep in one piece

“Ah'll buggiflay the sheap the morn”

/BUR-ruh TOOG/

small clump of rushes

“Mind yer feet, there's a wee burra toog.”

/BUR-sten/

coarsely toasted ground corn cereal

“Gie me a bowl o bursten.”

/BUSS/

soft bedding inside a bird's nest

“Da wee bird hed a buss o' feathers”

/BYOH-ags/

Meaning unknown — provide example sentence

“Hae ye seen the byoags?”

/BYURG/

small rocky prominence or crag

“Thar's a wee byurg up the brae.”

/KAA/

a driven group of animals

“A'm drivin the caa tae da hill”

/KAIR-din/

women's social visit for carding wool

“A'm gaen til caerdin the morn”

/KAM-ee-ROH-ginz/

child from secret sexual liaison

“Da cammiroagins wis hid till the bairn grew up.”

/KAN-ee/

skipper's steering seat on a sixareen

“Skipper sat in the canny haudin the helm alang his shooder.”

/KLASH-melt/

a filthy, untidy squalid muddle

“Da hoose's a pure clashmelt.”

/KLASH-pee/

gossip who betrays confidences

“Dinnae mind her, she's a clashpie.”

/KLOO-bawl/

tangled mass of rope or yarn

“Ther's a clewball i' t' net.”

/KLEEV/

horny foot of a hoofed animal

“Da cliv's crackit, gie 't tae the farrier.”

/KLEE-erz/

small glands in a sheep's stomach

“Gie the clyers a keek in the buik.”

/KOL-KOOMD/

completely charred, turned to ash

“Da hoose is collcoomed.”

/KOL-ee/

small shallow iron oil lamp

“Da colly's fair gaein oot.”

/KOL-ee-SHANG/

loud, disorderly argument or quarrel

“A collyshang brak oot at da ferry tiday.”

/KON-DWYND/

Deserving strong dislike or loathing

“That shop's condwined, fowk gie it a wide berth.”

/KOOM/

very fine powdery dust particles

“Da coom's aw ower ma claes”

/KUP-uhl/

one of a paired roof rafter

“Haud the couple while A nail the boards.”

/KRAWS-TRED/

Very small hen's egg, seasonal sign

“Ah foond a craa's tread i' t' nest, sae the hen's stoppit layin'.”

/KRAYG-SAT/

rocky fishing ledge on a crag

“He gaed til da craigsaet tae fish.”

/KRAM-iks/

sharp nails on a cat's paws

“Mind the crammicks on da cat.”

/KRANG/

remains of a dead animal

“Yon crang's fair stinkit.”

/KRAP-in/

Seasoned fish livers cooked in head

“Mither's crappin is aye braw”

/KRING/

pair of lambs joined by ring

“Ah saw a cring at da pen this morn”

/KROO-uhlz/

Oozing tubercular skin ulcers

“He haes crooels oan his leg.”

/KRUK-BAAK/

Beam over hearth for hanging pots

“Hing the pot oan the crook baak.”

/KROON-EE-dah-LIFT/

Point directly overhead in sky

“Luk up tae da croon ida lift.”

/KROP-uhnd/

shrunken and puckered out of shape

“Ma jumper's croppened efter bein left oan t' line.”

/KRUB/

small round stone cabbage enclosure

“Yon crub's ful o' kail.”

/KUD-ee/

small hanging basket for holding salt

“Pit the cuddie oan the ingle.”

/KURL-DOH-dee/

Shetland name for wild orchid

“Ah saw a bonnie curl dodie on the brae.”

/DAA-luh-mist/

low ground fog in valleys

“Yon daalamist lay i' the glen this morn.”

/DAYK/

wall-like bank of drying peat

“Da daek staans oot on da hill.”

/DAF-ik/

small wooden pail for water

“Tak the daffik tae the burn.”

/DED-MANZ-MIT-uns/

local name for blue gentian

“I seen dead man's mittens alang da brae”

/DED-TRAA/

final convulsive struggles at death

“That wis jist his dead traa.”

/de-POO-per-it/

made poor; lacking any money

“Depooperit, he set aff tae find wark.”

/DIP-lin-TREE/

Pointed tool for making planting holes

“Gie me the dipplin tree, a'll set the tatties.”

/DOR-oh/

short handline with hooked traces

“We'll tak the dorro oot at nicht.”

/DRUT-ul/

watery, diluted form of buttermilk

“Gie's a sup o druttle.”

/EEN-suh-uh-ERR-unt/

with that aim in mind

“Eence a errant, A'll set da creels noo.”

/EETCH/

Right-angled blade for shaping timber

“Da auld joiner aye taks his eetch tae wark.”

/EE-tim-TAY-shun/

an extremely tiny amount

“There's nae eetimtation o milk in da jug.”

/EL-ISH-un/

Pointed shoemaker's tool for leather

“Gie me the ellishon, Ah'll prick the sole.”

/EL-skah KRAI/

Final shout uttered at moment of death

“His elska cry skirled ower the voe.”

/ESS-ee-BAK-it/

small metal pail for ashes

“Tak the essibacket oot.”

/ESS-ih-MID-en/

heap or pit for depositing ashes

“The auld essimidden's fu' the noo.”

/FAH/

entrails removed at animal slaughter

“He fand da faa by da byre.”

/FAY-lee DAEK/

low turf wall made of sods

“We mended the faelly daek afore lambin'.”

/FAYN/

gladly welcome and accept with approval

“Ah'm fain tae hae ye here.”

/FAIR-eez KAIRD/

large fern, especially common bracken

“Da sheep canna get through da fairy's caird.”

/FAN-TAY-shun/

extreme gnawing hunger, severe starvation

“He's fair gaun oot o' his heid wi' fantation.”

/FAR-lin/

large wooden trough for gutting herring

“Pit the herrin i' the farlin noo.”

/FED-er/

sharpened edge of a Shetland knife

“Mind the fedder, it's gey sharp.”

/FEER-ee/

contagious disease causing severe diarrhoea

“Da feerie's rinnin roond the toon.”

/FAY-ness/

sight of a ghostly omen

“He telt us he saw feyness on the muir last neet”

/FIT-lin/

wooden foot brace inside rowing boat

“He set the fitlinn firm an' rowt awa”

/FLAY/

strip and cut peat turves

“A'll flae the peats the morn.”

/FLAT-shee/

Temporary bed laid on the floor

“Ah'll mak up a flatshie for ye.”

/FLIK-uh-ment/

brief flurry of agitated fuss

“A wee flickament brak oot at the pier.”

/FLIT-in STAYN/

stone used to free tethered animal

“Mind da flittin stane or da coo'll be aff.”

/FOHR-room/

Forward compartment of a sixern boat

“Gie me da lamp frae da foreroom.”

/FOR-taft/

forward bench in a boat

“He satt i the foretaft an keekit oot”

/FOOR-uh-REEN/

small rowing boat with four oars

“Da fourareen gaed oot alangst da voe.”

/FOH-zee/

Soft and limp from freezing vegetables

“Yon neep's aw fozie efter da frost.”

/GAW/

bitter bile; bright spot by sun

“See the gaa? It's nae a braw sign.”

/GAA-GIRS/

stonewort alga used as cattle remedy

“Mam aye boils up gaa girse for the kye.”

/GAB-BORD/

plank along a boat's keel

“A'll hae tae mend the gabbord.”

/GAN-fuh/

ghostly sighting of a living person

“Ah saw a ganfer at the kirk last nicht.”

/GER-tan/

band to hold up stockings

“Haud yer gertan or the stockins'll fa'.”

/GLANT/

lively, noisy bout of merry-making

“Da glant i' da toon is the morra nicht”

/GLEER/

faint shaft of sunlight through mist

“A wee gleer lichtit da brae.”

/GLOY/

Clean straight straw stalks for thatch

“Gie me a handful o' gloy.”

/GOYN-tek/

short rope securing pack-saddle girth

“Tak the gointek an tye it weel.”

/GUL-griv/

shallow livestock waste channel

“Dinna step intae da gölgriv.”

/GOR-stee GEERs/

turf grass on ridge tops

“Da gorstie girse aye grows oan da hummocks.”

/GRAH-vit/

woollen neckcloth worn for warmth

“Haud yer gravit roond yer neck, it's gey cauld oot.”

/GREE/

Rendered fish fat or oil

“Da gree's reddy tae fry da fish.”

/GREE-mik/

rope halter for leading cattle

“Gi'e me the greemik.”

/GREEN-boh/

scouring in sheep after pasture change

“Da ewes got greenbowe efter they cam doon frae the heather.”

/GREF/

base of a peat bank

“Dinna gang near the greff”

/GREM-stuh/

Extremely low ebb tide level

“We gaed oot at gremster tae dig cockles”

/GRETH-ee POT/

bedside portable toilet container

“Grethy pot's aye bi me bed.”

/GRAIS-MYTS/

tiny potatoes used as pig feed

“Gie da grice mites tae da hoggies.”

/GROF-siv/

coarse strainer with widely spaced holes

“Gie me the groff siv, aw'll rins it.”

/GROT/

oily, sludgy residue from fish oil

“Dinna tak yer hauns intae da gröt.”

/GROT-ee BAR-rel/

barrel for storing fish-liver oil

“Da grötti barrel stuid in da loft.”

/GROV-uhl/

search by touch in darkness

“Ah hud tae grovel aroond the soofa for ma keys”

/GROOL-tree/

wooden stirring stick for porridge

“Ga an fetch da gruel tree.”

/GUD-ik/

riddle; to quiz with riddles

“She gied me a guddick last nicht”

/GOO/

Two-stringed traditional Shetland fiddle

“Ah seen da gue playt at t' ceilidh.”

/GUL-moh-get/

dark-backed animal with pale belly

“Da gulmoget's gey easy tae pick oot o' the herd.”

/GUL-suh GIR-suh/

marsh plant used for cattle jaundice

“Hae ye seen gulsa girse doon by the loch?”

/GOO-triv/

the anal opening of a fish

“A'll haud the fish by the gutriv.”

/GIL/

steep narrow hollow at valley head

“A'll gang up the gyill the morn.”

/HAD-ee-bahnd/

Transverse timber securing a boat's frames

“He set the haddibaand unner the thrawt”

/HAIRST-RIG/

strip of land being reaped

“Da hairst rig's near doon noo.”

/HAF-OOT-uh-FOR/

upper half of sheep's ear cut

“Ah seen da lamb wi a half oot afore on't”

/HAHR/

upper plate of a door hinge

“The harr o' the dor's a' worn.”

/HAS-enz/

Planks beside the keel on a boat

“Aw'll pit new nails in the hassens the morn”

/HEK-uhl/

to move slowly with difficulty

“He heckled up the brae wi' the cart”

/HEL-yer/

sea-filled coastal cave at high tide

“We hid the boat in the helyer afore the storm”

/HEMZ/

wooden triangular collars for sheep

“Aw hae put hems oan the yow”

/HENCH-BEN/

bone from an animal's hip

“Gie us the hench ben.”

/HENCH-hed/

upper part of an animal's haunch

“Mind the hench head when ye lift the sheep”

/HEN-ti-LAG-ets/

Loose tufts of sheep fleece

“Ah broucht hentilagets hame fae the brae.”

/HEN-tins/

leftover grain gathered after harvest

“Da bairns hev bin pickin the hentins.”

/HIL-GRYND/

gate to communal hill pasture

“Ah'll meet ye at the hill grind.”

/HIN-ee-SPOT/

Triangular wooden block for boat stem

“Hae ye set the hinny spot?”

/HIN-ee-WAHR/

edible seaweed gathered from shore

“A'll hae a wee bit o' hinnywar.”

/HOK-bend/

Tie cord above animal's hock

“Gie the coo a hochbend afore ye staart tae milk.”

/HOH-MOOTHD/

projecting upper jaw with snout-like profile

“Da dug's a bit hoe moothed.”

/HOY-dee-HOLL/

small concealed spot used for hiding

“Da cat sleepit in da hoidie holl doon by da dyke.”

/HOOB/

shallow tidal lagoon at voe head

“Wi gaed oot tae fish in the houb.”

/HOW-dee/

local woman assisting childbirth

“Da howdie coom an' helpit wi da bairn.”

/HUGG-ee-staf/

Sturdy long-handled hook for landing fish

“Gie's the huggistaff, I'll houl the cod aboord.”

/HUM-lee-BAHND/

looped rope holding an oar

“Set da humlibaand oan da gunnel”

/HUN-di-klok/

Large winged beetle, the maybug

“A hundiclock's oan the windae.”

/HUSH/

low steady murmur of the sea

“Da hush o' sea fills da voe.”

/HYOK-uhl-BAYN/

broad shoulder blade, the scapula

“He brakkit his hyocklebane on da boat.”

/JOCK-tuh-leg/

sizable folding pocketknife for everyday use

“Da lad sharpit the jocktaleg afore they went oot”

/JONZ-MAS-FOY/

Midsummer feast by Dutch fishermen

“Ah'm gaen tae the johnsmas foy.”

/KAHM/

Mould for making fishing lead sinkers

“Gie's the kaam, Ah'll pour the leid.”

/KAV-vel/

Lever out hook from big fish

“A'll kavvel it intae the boat.”

/KEEL-drakht/

protective cover fitted to boat keel

“Set the keeldracht oan afore ye haul the yoal.”

/KEENG/

repair pottery with metal clasps

“A'll keeng the auld teapot”

/KING-KUM-uh-LAY/

Traditional Shetland folk party game

“We gaed oot an playt king cum a lay on the green”

/KIRK-MARK/

congenital split of the upper lip

“Da bairn hes a kirk mark.”

/KIRK-nin/

newly married couple's first church attendance

“They gaed tae the kirknin efter the weddin.”

/KIS-tin/

placing corpse into coffin before burial

“We hed the kistin at e'en.”

/KRAP-en/

fish livers mixed with oatmeal

“A'll bile krappen the nicht.”

/KRING/

a pair of lambs tethered together

“Da kring's oot on da lee.”

/KWAR-kah-bus/

Dropsical throat swelling in sheep

“Da yow's got kwarkabus, gie da vet a ca'.”

/LAH-buh-rin/

severe physical beating or whipping

“He hed a reet laaberin efter da row”

/LAHK-ter/

a group of newborn animal offspring

“Da laachter's gey bonnie.”

/LAK-ee/

Third compartment of a ruminant stomach

“Da coo's lackie is fou”

/LAYM/

Partial loft or raised storage platform

“Pit the peats oan the laem.”

/LAP-uh MID-er/

woman who breast-feeds another's infant

“Da lap a midder aye kens hoo tae calm the wean.”

/LAP-stayn/

flat sea smoothed anvil stone for leather

“Lay the lapstane on yer lap an' bang awa.”

/LAHST/

old land measure of eighteen marks

“Thon's a last o grund.”

/LEEK-stray/

bed-straw burned in funeral rites

“They taen the leek strae an lichtit it.”

/LEG-in/

junction of tub sides and bottom

“Mind the leggin o' the pail, it's gan tae leak.”

/LEM-pit-KUD-ee/

Small hand-held basket for limpets

“Tak yir lempit cuddy, we'll hae eneuch for tea.”

/LOOCH/

Laughed — past form of laugh

“I leuch sair at his crack.”

/LIKH-tuh-nin TREE/

beam for adjusting top millstone

“Gie the lichtenin tree a wee turn afore we stairt the mill”

/LIF-teen/

cow so weak must be lifted

“Da lifteen coo cannae gang oot on her ain.”

/LINK/

short chain for hanging pot-hook

“Haud the link sae the pot hangs ower the ingle.”

/LIS-pund/

Old Shetland weight for grain and butter

“He gied me a lispund o butter.”

/LIT/

deep indigo dye used for cloth

“Mither gied the claes a bit o' litt.”

/LIV-er-drink/

deadly finishing blow causing death

“He gied him a liver drink an' he telt ower.”

/LIV-er-hed/

Unclear Shetland term related to food

“Da liver head's aye sittin at da pier.”

/LOHD-BEH-ree/

Lerwick waterfront house built over sea

“We hae auld nets in da lodberrie.”

/LUH-na-brack/

surging, breaking motion of waves

“Lönabrack cam in an' shuk the quoy.”

/LOO-der-horn/

bullock's horn used as signal

“The looderhorn blaws an' a' the boats cam in.”

/LOH-ren-SHOON/

archaic Shetland word for shoes

“Tak aff yer loren shön afore ye come in”

/LUHK-ee MIN-eez OO/

Shetland name for bog cotton

“Aa taen a handful o' lucky minnie's oo.”

/LUNG-ee/

sheep intestine used as casing

“Mither's makin puddin, gie 'er the lungie noo.”

/LYO-ag/

small damp hollow on hillside

“Mind yer step roon the lyoag.”

/MAYD/

whitish fly larva in decaying matter

“I fand a maed in da fishbox”

/MAY-dit/

infested with maggots in flesh

“Da lamb's maedit.”

/MAY-ger-dum/

physical frailty with low spirits

“He's jist a maegerdom the noo.”

/MAY-shee/

sturdy net for carrying hay

“Aw'll tak the maeshie oot tae the machair.”

/MAR-tuh-BOH-li-mas-DAY/

Local feast for St Martin's relics

“Aw'll gang tae martabolimas day.”

/MEL-MOO-ree/

blinding, driving powdery snow squall

“A'll no ga oot in a mell moorie.”

/MERK/

Traditional Shetland land measure

“Da merk's nae muckle, but it keeps twa kye.”

/MID-erz BLIS-ins/

small pale patches on nails

“Hae ye seen the midder's blissins oan her nails?”

/MIR-AK-ul/

to wound or maim severely

“He'll mirackle ye if ye dae that.”

/MOH-der-dee/

low long-period under-swell used by fishermen

“We kent the moder dy an' steered fur the grounds.”

/MURLD-DROCHT/

intense thirst in dying person

“She haes möld drocht an rins aal day”

/MOHL-dee BLET/

bare spot on hillside pasture

“Mind the kye aff the möldie blett.”

/MON-i-ment/

a foolish or senseless person

“Yon moniment's aye daft as owt”

/MOOd/

Lacking salts; sheep in poor condition

“Da ewes is fair mooed efter da lang winter”

/MOO-ree KAH-vee/

extremely severe blizzard with drifting snow

“We hid tae bide it oot when the moorie caavie cam.”

/MOOT/

very small animal or insect

“Dinna fash yersel aboot the moot.”

/MUTCH-kin/

Shetland liquid measure about one pint

“Gie's a mutchkin o ale.”

/NOCH-ti-fy/

treat as of little worth

“Dinna nochtify him cos he telt it wrang.”

/NORN/

Extinct North Germanic island language

“Auld folk spak norn afore.”

/NYOO-gel/

Shetland folklore water-horse, lures people

“Da's a nyuggel i't loch, dinna gang near.”

/OY-lur/

shallow byre gutter for cattle waste

“The oiler's awfu fu efter the kye.”

/OH-kra-bung/

oatgrass producing small nutlike tubers

“Da okrabung is oot in da rig.”

/ON-lay/

a very heavy fall of snow

“We hed an onlay yestreen, an nae ane cood get oot.”

/OON-LIP-puhnd/

unexpected and sudden arrival

“It wis fair oonlippened.”

/OOT-set/

small allotted croft for cultivation

“He hed an ootset fae the laird an biggit a hoose”

/OWS-ROOM/

compartment in a sixern for water

“Gie da owse room a bail.”

/pa-LOO-vee-us/

completely and thoroughly drunk

“Da lad is paloovious efter da nicht”

/PEKHT/

member of the ancient Pictish people

“Da pecht wis here lang syne.”

/PEN-shinz/

cow paunch lining used for tripe

“A'll boil da penshins the nicht.”

/PER-SKEET/

Uncertain; possibly variant spelling

“Whit's a perskeet den?”

/PEKS-inz/

A punishment or chastising action

“Maw gied me pexins for sneakin oot.”

/PINCH/

iron lever for prying large stones

“Gie me the pinch, Ah'll shift the stane.”

/PINT-ul/

male external sexual organ

“Dinnae fash yersel aboot da pintle”

/PLANT-ee-crub/

small circular drystone-walled cabbage plot

“Ah'll gang tae da planticrub the morn.”

/PLUHK-er/

large deep-sea anglerfish with lure

“Da plucker sat deip doon wi a wee licht ower its heid.”

/POH-bee/

high hill or prominent headland

“Da boat gaed oot frae da pobie.”

/PREEN/

small metal pin used for fastening

“Gie me the preen, the bunnet's slippin'.”

/KWAG/

young female cow before first calf

“Yon quaig's gettin gey weel.”

/RAYM-kahm/

sea surface perfectly still and glassy

“Da sea is raem calm.”

/RAK-ee/

ring on mast supporting a yard

“Rakki sat fast on da mast.”

/RANKS-mun/

one of a pair of small fishing boats

“Oor ranksman aye bides close when the sea's rough.”

/RAN-sel-man/

old parish constable and local officer

“Da ranselman gaed aboot seekin fur stelen kye.”

/RED-inz/

fat from sheep intestines

“Mither aye uises reddins in da puddin.”

/RED-wahr KOD-lin/

small red-tinted cod fish

“A got a redwaar codlin fer tea.”

/REE-binz/

upper planks forming a boat's gunwale

“He wis repaintin' the reebins.”

/REE-in/

a sharp high-pitched pig cry

“Dae ye hear the reein frae the sty?”

/RIV-lin/

slipper made from hair on hide

“Ah'll put oan ma rivlin.”

/ROHN/

to steal eggs from a bird's nest

“Dinna roan the eider's nest alang the voe.”

/ROO-duh-ree SKER-ee/

small rocky sea outcrop with barnacles

“Mind the roodery skerry oot by the Ness; it'll snare yer keel.”

/RUN-nik/

shallow open drain for dung and washings

“Mind the runnick efter ye rinse the byre.”

/SAAT-KUD-ee/

Small woven straw pouch for salt

“Ah hung da saat cuddie oan da hearth.”

/SAN-tet/

made to disappear in a mysterious way

“Da keys are santet, canna fin' them.”

/SKAT/

historic land tax paid to crown

“Hae ye paid the scat noo?”

/SKLAYTS/

Protective wooden strips on an oar

“Dinna fergit the sclates oan the oar.”

/SKOH/

wooden stave of a barrel or cask

“A scowe wis loosed frae the kask.”

/SKREE/

dense swarm of insects or creatures

“Da scry o midgies is pure thick.”

/SHAL-MIL-ENZ/

tiny fragments; small bits or pieces

“There's shalmillens aboot the table”

/SHAN-tee/

portable bedside vessel for relieving oneself

“Lae the shanty bi ma bed.”

/SHARL-pin/

Pin securing wooden door hinge knuckles

“Mind yer sharl pin, the door's droopin.”

/SHIL/

to bite off or nip away

“Da dorg wull shill yer scone.”

/SHURG/

Wet gravelly layer beneath the topsoil

“Da tractor gaet stuck i' da shurg.”

/SID/

thin inner husks of oats

“Gie the sid tae the hens”

/SEEL/

pin across the upper millstone eyehole

“He's oot o his sile the noo.”

/SIL-ee/

Frail and in poor health

“Da auld man's gettin' right silly noo.”

/SIM-er-mal/

Shetland name for 3 April

“We aye leuk at the lift on simmermal.”

/SIM-mer-mal DAANS/

wavering heat shimmer above road

“Da simmermal dance maks da road look like it's runnin wi watter.”

/SIM-uhnds/

plaited straw cords for binding

“A'll fetch the simmonds frae the byre.”

/SKEB/

large straw basket for holding loose straw

“Pit the skeb intae the byre.”

/SKEK-luh/

Shetland mummer wearing a straw suit

“Da skekler cam te oor door.”

/SKAY-oh/

small stone shed for drying fish

“We'll bide in da skeo da nicht”

/SKROT-ee/

lichen used to make reddish-orange dye

“Mither uised skrotti tae tint ma wull.”

/SKOO-tuh-MIL-uh-SKROO/

Children's hide-and-seek among stooks

“Da bairns gaed oot tae hae a skutamillaskroo amang the stooks.”

/SKY-ahgz/

enclosures for keeping domestic geese

“Hae ye shut the skyaags noo?”

/SKY-OH-mit/

pale and looking unwell

“Da bairn's skyoamit the day.”

/SKYUM-pik/

large moss-covered peat sod

“Ye canna shift that skyumpik on yer ain.”

/SNEET-KLOOT/

playful Shetland word for handkerchief

“Gie me yer sneet cloot, A'm greetin.”

/SNOR-ee BEN/

spun toy that makes rattling snore

“Da bairn's playin wi the snorie ben.”

/SNIV-uh-REEZ/

small wooden peg garment fasteners

“Mind the snyivveries oan yer coat”

/SOH/

chewed limpets used as bait

“Gie's me a wee soe for da creel.”

/SONG-ee/

animal with both sex organs

“Da songie loupit ower the dyke.”

/SPON-get/

black coat with white patches

“Yon coo's sponget.”

/SPRIG/

short nail used by cobblers

“Da cobbler hammered a sprig intae da sool.”

/SPY-ulk/

narrow wooden brace for limb

“He cam hame wi a spyolk oan his leg.”

/STAM-er-in/

timber brace securing stem to planking

“A'll sit on the stammerin whan we steer hame.”

/STAP-uhl/

narrow mouthpiece of a smoking pipe

“Gie me da stapple o da clay pipe.”

/STEE-pul/

stack of fish laid crosswise to dry

“Mind yer step near da steepel.”

/STEN-LOO-pen/

blood-filled blister from crushed stone

“Da fella trippit ower da stane an got a stenloopen oan his fit.”

/STIG-ee/

stepped opening in drystone wall

“Gie me a haun ower da stiggy.”

/STOHLS/

cut lower ends of corn stalks

“Aw'll stack the stöels in the byre”

/STOR-ee WIRM/

larval grub of crane-fly

“Ah fand a story wirm i' the moss the day.”

/STREEK/

laying out a corpse for burial

“A'll streek da body afore da wake.”

/STRIF-en/

thin membranous caul around intestine fat

“Tak aff the striffen wi a skairp knif”

/STROH-dee/

narrow grassy lane between walls

“Ah gaed alang the strodie tae the croft.”

/STUR-dee/

brain cyst disease in sheep

“Da ewe's gaen sturdy, she cannae find hame.”

/STILK/

single stem of an oat plant

“Yon stylk is awfy lang.”

/SUK-uh-legs/

tube-like leg coverings worn over shoes

“Put oan da sukkalegs afore ye gae oot.”

/SWARF/

brief sudden fainting spell

“He hed a swarf an cam roond efter a wee”

/TAHND/

glowing peat piece used as firebrand

“Gie me the taand.”

/TAH-tee KRAH/

spinning potato toy with feathers

“Da bairn's aye playin wi the taatie craa.”

/TAA-TIT/

Traditional yarn-made bed cover

“Pit the taatit oan the bed.”

/TAEK-GAYT/

Thatcher's working platform along wall-head

“He wis stannin on the taek gaet when the wind an' rain cam'.”

/TAFT/

crosswise bench for oarsman in boat

“Set ye oan the taft an grip the oar.”

/TAM-uhs-MAS/

Midwinter feast day on December 21

“We aye haud tammasmass an bide hame”

/TAM-ee NOD-ee/

Shetland children's personified sleep-bringer

“Hush, tammy noddie'll tak ye tae yer bed noo.”

/TAR-ee KROOK/

short-handled fork for seaweed

“Gi' me the tarry krook an Ah'll spread the wrack.”

/TOH-MIH-KINS/

Hand tool for twisting fibres

“He tuk da tömikins an sat by da quay.”

/TOON-mals/

tenant's grazing land beside the house

“A'll aye mind the toonmals.”

/TRAP-ul/

the windpipe; airway in throat

“Mind yer trapple, hinny.”

/TROO-kur/

disreputable woman of loose morals

“Da trooker aye gits fowk talkin'.”

/TROHZ-had/

dwelling of the Shetland fairy folk

“Dinna keek intae the trow's hadd”

/TRUK/

trample and crush under the foot

“Dinna truck the tatties wi yer boots”

/TWART-bahk/

horizontal tie beam between opposing rafters

“Is the twartbaak brack?”

/YOO-LIH-NAY-SHUN/

loud disorderly noisy commotion

“Ther's an ulination oot by the pier.”

/UN-DOH-mee-us/

Extremely large or strikingly impressive

“Thon's undömious, I ne'er saw the like”

/VAIR-ee-uhm/

small decorative motif on furniture

“Yon variorum on the owd dresser's gey braw.”

/VIN-stur/

Sheep stomach inflammation disease

“Da ewe haes vinster an winna tak ony feed.”

/WAA-bak/

wall-hung kerosene lamp with flat back

“Hang the waa back oan the wa'.”

/WAD-er-HED/

Banded cloud streaks predicting weather

“Yon wadder head'll bring rain”

/WAP-tree/

bar linking treadle to wheel axle

“Mind the waptree or the wheel winna gang richt.”

/WAR-bak/

abscess on cattle's back from larvae

“Da coo haes a warback.”

/WAWN/

official written authorization from court

“She gied me a warn fae da court.”

/WEEK/

candle wick; corner of the mouth

“Gie the week a licht afore it gaes oot.”

/WEE-FLI-KAY-SHUN/

an excuse to avoid blame

“Dinna come wi yer wheeflication.”

/WEEL-bahndz/

dried sheep intestines used as bands

“A'll pit new wheelbands oan the spinnin-wheel.”

/WHIL-ee/

small light open skiff for fishing

“A'll tak the whillie oot tae the skerries”

/WIL/

gone astray; lost one's way

“Da dug's will oan da hill.”

/WIR-sum/

thick pus from an infected sore

“Dinnae pick at the wirsom, bairn.”

/WRESS-tin-TREED/

black thread tied round injured limb

“Mam tyed a wrestin treed roond ma fit.”

/YAH-ger/

secret buyer of crofters' fish

“Dinna deal wi a yaager.”

/YAHRM/

to utter a sheep-like bleating

“Da sheep yaarm oot on da brae.”

/YAT-len/

deep, fresh blood-red color

“He cam hame wi his shirt yatlen”

/YOHL/

Six-oared Shetland rowing boat

“Aw'll tak the yoal oot the morn.”