Scottish Words: A Very Peculiar History - Hardcover

What would you say if someone gave you a bap, a dap, or a garron? How would you feel if they called you a dux or a sneuter? Do you know what to do with a flane, a hushock, a kist, or tassie? Could you wear raploch or schort-hoozle? Eat a cake that was gibbery, or keggum? And, with your nearest and dearest, how would you fancy a spot of houghmagandie? North of the Border - it's not just the accent that's different, the whole language is not the same. In fact, there are several different ways of speaking in Scotland, from the Borders in the south to the northernmost Orkney and Shetland Isles. This book will look at them all, although it will focus on Scots - the traditional language of the majority of Scottish people for the past thousand years and more. Fact boxes, a full glossary, timeline and index make the book both fun and informative to use.

Fiona Macdonald studied history at Cambridge University and at the University of East Anglia. She has taught in adult education and in schools and universities, and is the author of numerous books for children on historical topics.