To celebrate the birthday of Scotland’s Bard we have been sent a poem, written by a lady called Irene, which we would like to share with you. It is packed with lots of Scottish words and phrases and we hope you enjoy reminiscing about ” the banter” from the past and present.
Scots Poem by Irene
I’m going to read a rhyme and hope to make you laugh
But if you don’t like it – tell me to “Get aff”
Some Scottish words and phrases – used so long ago
So if you’re truly Scottish, I’m sure there’s lots you’ll know.
Yer Maw was geeling crabbit and needed a bit o’ peace
So she’d shout “Shut Yer Geggie” and maybe “Haud yer wheesh”
Boggin, bowfin’, manky, mingin – words that all meant smell
Clatty, hummin, howlin and mockit – were smelly words as well
Way back when in Scotland, there wiz many a funny phrase
How many do you remember – or even use these days?
A clean shirt’ll dae ye and lang may yer lum reek, we don’t hear those today
Yer at the coos tail, oan yer bike, ye could dreep the’ all day
Och aye the noo, yer bum’s oot the windae, the wee scunner’s a heid the baw
Ben the hoose, don’t be a clype, gie it laldy and shoot the craw
Whit’s fur ye will no go by ye, away an bile yer heid I’m going to skelp yer behind and yer a long time deid
Jings, crivvens and help ma boab, yer aw mooth and troosers
As many a person was called a name cos folks thought they were losers
Bawheid, bampot, eejit, diddy, glaikitlittel scunner
Gallus nyaff to name a few but there could be anither hunner
There’s thoosands of words from the olden days – how many do you know
Bahookie, breeks, cludgie and dunny and havin a square go
Shoogly, midden, loab, tumshie, bammy, lavvy and hummin
And a good old word like steamie remembered by loads a wummin
A wee bawbee, a chanty, a walloper and a lynchin
And who remembers the jigging wi a lumber tae dae some winchin
If yer dreechit or droocht or peelly wally, havin the boak or ye are loupin
Take yer chanty and an’ Go tae yer scratcher – always helps wi the goupin
Do you remember bluttered and hammered – stoatin and gutted and fleein
Steamin, puggled and paralytic – if you’d had loads more than a wee yin
Well I hope you have heard lots of funny old stuff and I’ll bring this to an end
So thank you all for listening – from Irene – your new friend.
