The Proverbs of Scotland

He that is unwilling that a visitor or friend should remain in his house, is very ready to give information as to the way home, and the advantages of following it.

"Certain light kinds of clouds are thus denominated, from their supposed resemblance to the scratches of hens on the ground and the tails of young mares. They are held as progno...

"I had the honour to visit his late gracious Majesty, at his palace of Holyrood, where, I can assure you, I was as civilly entreated as the first in the land, not excluding the...

The humble rank indicated by the horn spoon is one in which simplicity and contentment are so general that no poisoning need be feared. "No hemlock is drunk out of earthenware."...

"And touching the bairn, it's weel kent she was born on Hallowe'en was nine years gane, and they that are born on Hallowe'en whiles see mair than ither folk."--_The Monastery._

"This refers," says Jamieson, "to the custom of children building houses in the sand for sport." The proverb means, after such an occurrence we need never expect to be on terms...

To kemp, to strive. All do not strive alike. All cannot equally excel in work. This proverb supports the claims of those who do not excel, by suggesting that even the "kempers"...

"Mr Novit, ye'll no forget to draw the annual rent that's due on the yerl's band--if I pay debt to other folk, I think they suld pay it to me--that equals aquals.--Jock, when ye...

To "girn in a widdy" is to laugh or girn when a halter is round the neck--meaning that it is no joke to be placed in a difficult or dangerous position.

"I am of opinion, Sancho," said Don Quixote, "that there is no proverb which is not true, because they are all sentences drawn from experience itself, the mother of all the scie...

"There's meikle good love in bands and bags, And siller and gowd's a sweet complexion; But beauty and wit, and virtue in rags, Have tint the art of gaining affection."--_Tea-Tab...

Literally, put your legs in your thanks and make good gaiters of them. A sharp remark on those who pay in thanks only, when a more substantial reward is expected.

"It took its rise from a minister in our country, who, in a sermon preached most fiercely against the supremacy of the Pope, at the conclusion said, 'Even stands his cap for all...

Meaning there is nothing like doing a thing thoroughly. "A vile, malicious proverb," says Kelly, "first used by Captain James Stewart against the noble Earl of Morton, and after...

"And what for suld I no have a _corpus delicti_, or a _habeas corpus_, or ony other _corpus_ that I like, sae lang as I am willing to lick and lay down the ready siller?"--_St R...

"At this moment the door opened, and the voice of the officious Andrew was heard,--'A'm bringin' in the caunles--ye can light them gin ye like--can do is easily carried about wi...

"I am beginning to think ye are but a queer ane--ye look as if butter wadna melt in your mouth, but I sall warrant cheese no choke ye.--But I'll thank ye to gang your ways into...