George T. Flom

“ The number of Scandinavian elements in Southern Scotch is, however, very great and indicates larger settlements than can be inferred from place-names alone. In the case of early settlements these will generally represent fairly well the extent of settlement. But where they have taken place comparatively late, or where they have been of a more peaceful nature, the number of new names of places that result from them may not at all indicate their extent. The Scandinavians that settled in Southern Scotland probably at no time exceeded in number the native population. ”

“ After 870 Iceland was settled by Norsemen from Norway, but in part also from the Western Isles and Ireland. The 'Austmen' in Ireland, especially Dublin, seem frequently to have visited the opposite shore. It seems probable that Northwestern England was settled chiefly by Norsemen from Ireland, Man, and the Isles on the west. It is not likely that any settlements took place before 900. It seems more probable that they belong rather to the second quarter of the 10th Century or even later, when the Irish began successfully to assert themselves against the Norse kings in Dublin and Waterford. ”

“ The word slaister, "to dawdle, to waste one's time," is not clear. The sb. slaisterer, "a slink, an untidy person," is also found. The ai indicates an original diphthong. It is probably the same as Norse slöysa, sb. "an untidy person," as vb. "to be untidy, to be careless." Ster (slais + ster) would, then, be an Eng. suffix, or it may be the same as that in Sco. camstary, cp. Germ. halsstarrig. The Norse word slöysa is probably not the direct source of the Eng. dialect word. Slaister, however, for slöysa, seems to be a recent word in Norse. ”

“ Force is found twice, and thwaite once. Dale, however, occurs 12 times. West Riding was probably settled by Danes from the East and by Norsemen from the West. Thorpe occurs 29 times, with 8, toft 2, beck 4, fell 15, thwaite 6, dale 12, and tarn 2. In North Riding thorpe occurs 18 times. Force, fell, and tarn together 12. The large number of names in dale in North Riding is rather striking (40 in all) , as compared with 52 for Westmoreland and Cumberland. While dale is predominantly Norse, it may perfectly well be Danish, and it is not rare in Denmark. ”

“ The other settlements in Southern Scotland may extend even into the 11th Century. The name Dingwall (O. N. Ðingvöllr) in Dumfries, the place where the laws were announced annually, indicates a rather extensive settlement in Dumfries, and the dialect of Dumfries is also characterized by a larger number of Scandinavian elements than the rest of the Southern counties.
4. Settlements in England, Norse or Danish? ”

“ Some words have been taken from works more recent—"Mansie Wauch" by James Moir, "Johnnie Gibb" by William Alexander, Isaiah and The Psalms by P. Hately Waddell—partly to illustrate New Scotch forms, but also because they help to show the dialectal provenience of loanwords. Norse elements in the Northern dialects of Lowland Scotch, those of Caithness and Insular Scotland, are not represented in this work. My list of loanwords is probably far from complete. A few early Scottish texts I have not been able to examine. ”

“ A number of words that have come into Gaelic and Irish from Norse are also found in Lowland Scotch. In some cases it seems that the word has not come into Lowland Scotch direct from Norse, but by way of Gaelic or Irish. Craigie has given a list of about 200 words in Gaelic that seem to come from Norse. Out of these I will take a few that have corresponding words in Scotch:
Garth and loft agree perfectly with the O. N. and are not doubtful. With the Gael. gardh cp. O. N. garðr and O. Sw. gardher. The Sco. garth has changed the original voiced spirant to a voiceless one. ”

“ Farrand, adj. appearing, generally well-appearing, handsome, e.g., a seemly farrand person. The word frequently means "fitting, proper," O. N. fara, to suit, to fit, a secondary sense of fara, to go.
Feir, fer, adj. sound, unharmed. O. N. færr, safe, well, in proper condition, originally applied to a way that was in proper condition or a sea that was safe, e.g., Petlandsfjörðr var eigi færr, the Pentland Firth was not safe, could not be crossed. Norse før also has this same meaning, also means "handy, skillful," finally "strong, well-built." Dan., Sw. för, able. So in Dunbar, 258, 51. ”

“ It occurs 600-700 times in Denmark and Skåne, and 450 times in Norway. Finally, by is often found in Norse settlements in Scotland and elsewhere—in Iceland, Shetland, Orkney, Man, and in the Western Isles. In fact, by seems to be the more common form outside of Iceland. All we can say then is that by is more Danish than Norse, but may also be Norse. Where names in by are numerous it indicates that the settlements are rather Danish, but they may also be Norse. ”

“ Sk as a Scandinavian Sign. Certain Words in sk. Palatalization in Norse.
Wall argues that non-palatalization cannot be regarded as a sign of Scand. influence and cites a number of words in support of this conclusion (see Wall, § 30) . With regard to dick, "ditch," and sag, "sedge," Wall is probably right. Those in sk are, however, not so easily disposed of. The presence of certain words with sk in the South or those cited in sh in the North does not prove the case. While the presence of a word in South Eng. diall. is in favor of its genuine Eng. ”

“ Norse veikja, to weaken, make weak. O. N. væikja, to grow weak, both from adj. væikr, weak, same as O. E. wāc. The Sco. vb. may be formed directly from the adj., in which case its origin becomes uncertain. Skeat says Eng. weak, M. E. weyke (which replaced wook < O. E. wāc) , is from O. N. væikr. But the M. Sco. form of O. E. or O. Nhb. wāc was wāke (wēk) ; our word could come from this. The diphthong, however, rather indicates that it comes from the Norse vb.
Weill-varandly, adv. in a proper manner. R.R., 911. See farrand. Cp. O. N. fara vel, Norse fara vel, to go well, velfaren, gone well. ”

“ Is in form more specifically Norse than Dan. Occurs in a number of place-names in South Scotland, especially Dumfries. See I, § 3.
Gatefarrin, adj. wayfaring, in the sense of fit to travel, in suitable apparel for travel. Johnnie Gibb, 12, 35. Wall distinguishes rightly between the O. N. and the Eng. use of the word fare. This Scand. use of the word is confined to Norway and Iceland, and is, at any rate in the later period, more characteristic of Icelandic than Norse. Cp. a similar use of the word sitta, in Norse, to look well, said of clothes that look well on a person. ”

“ Bysning, sb. a strange person, an unusually unfortunate person. Douglas, I, 2544; I, 339. O. N. býsna, to portend, býsn, a strange and portentous thing. Norse bysn, a prodigy, bysning, curiosity. See the adj. Cp. Shetland sóni-bosni, O. N. sjonar-býsn, a marvel.
Cadye, adj. wanton. Lyndsay, LXXXVII, 2567. Also written cady, caidgy, caigie; sometimes means "sportive, cheerful." Dan. kaad, merry, lusty, lustful. So Sw. kåt, O. N. katr, merry, cheerful, Norse kaat. Cp. Philotus 5, "the carle caiges," where the same word is used as a vb. to wanton, be wanton. ”

“ Danish settlements began in the latter half of the 9th Century, but Dan. (and Norse) and Eng. did not merge immediately. Scand. continued to be spoken throughout the next century down to the beginning of the 11th Century (Noreen) . Brate says the majority of loanwords probably came in in the beginning of the 10th Cen75tury. Wall points out that the Mercian and the Northumbrian Gospels of the 1st part of the 10th Century show extremely small traces of Scand. influence. It would seem, then, that the greater number of loanwords came in after monophthongation had taken place in Dan. ”

“ The Scandinavian settlements in Northwestern England, however, did not take place so early, con5sequently if these names were Danish and not Norse we should expect to find thwet, or thweet (tweet) , in place of thwaite. It is then to be regarded as Norse and not Danish. Thwaite occurs almost exclusively in Northwestern England—43 times in Cumberland as against 3 in the rest of England south of Yorkshire. Garth (O. N. garðr, O. Dan. gardh, later gaard) , occurs very often in Cumberland. With, ness, holm, land, and how, do not occur very often. ”

“ Sit (sīt) , vb. to grieve. Wallace, I, 438. O. N. sýta, Norse syta, to care. See syte, sb.
Sitefull, adj. sorrowful, distressing. Douglas, I, 40, 19. Cp. Norse suteful. See syte, sb.
Skail, skale, scale, vb. to scatter, disperse, dismiss, part, leave. A very common word. O. N. skilja, separate, O. Dan. skiliæ, Norse, skilja, Dan. skille, Sw. dial. skila. The long vowel is unusual. Cp. skeely in N. Sco. from O. N. skilinn. The same change of i to an e-vowel is observed in gleit and quey.
Skail, sb. a storm, a strong wind that "skails." ”

“ Loup, lowp, vb. to leap, to jump. O. N. hlaupa, to leap, Norse læupa, run, O. Sw. löpa, Dan. löbe. Cp. Cu. lowpy-dike, a husband of unfaithful habits, and the secondary meanings of Norse laupa given in Aasen.
Loup, lowp, sb. a jump, a spring. Bruce, VI, 638; X, 414; Sco. Pro. 3. See the verb.
Louse, lowse, adj. loose, free, unfettered. Wyntoun, IX, 2, 63; Douglas, I, 95, 9; I, 95, 23. O. N. lauss, Norse læus, loose. See Wall. Sco. to be louse, to be abroad, about. The Norse word is similarly used. Cp. Germ. los, and Dan. lös. Waddell has the word godlowse, godless. ”

“ Douglas, III, 251, 2. O. N. bragð, a sudden motion, a quick movement, tricks or sleights in wrestling. O. Sw. braghþ, a sudden motion. Norse, Sw. bragd, manner of execution, exploit. The fundamental idea in the Sco. and the O. Nh. word is sudden movement. The O. E. brægd meant deceit, fraud.
Braith, adj. hasty, violent. Wallace, X, 242. O. N. bráðr, sudden, hasty, O. Dan. braadh, Norse braad. Cp. braahast (E. Norse) , great hurry, O. Sw. brader, brodher, hasty, violent, Orm. bra, angry. Brothfall (Orm) , a fit, broth (Eng. dial.) , in Skeat's list. Braithful, violent, sharp. ”

“ Tynsell, tynsale, sb. loss. Bruce, V, 450, XIX, 449; R.R., 505. In Wyntoun, IX, 3, 25, it means "delay, loss of time," frequently means "loss of life, slaughter." M. E. tinsel, loss, ruin, probably a Sco. formation from tyne, to lose, similarly in Norse tynsell, loss (not frequent) , from tyna.
Tynsale, vb. to lose, suffer loss. Bruce, XIX, 693. See the sb.
Tytt, adj. firm, tight. Wallace, VII, 21, 2. O. N. þittr, tight, close, Norse, tett or titt, Dan. tæt, Sw. tät, close together, tight, Eng. dial. theet. The long vowel in theet is unusual. ”

“ Hame-Sucken, sb. the crime of assaulting a person within his own house. O. N. hæim-sókn, O. Dan. hem-sokn, an attack on one's house. O. Sw. hem-sokn, O. E. hamsocn, E. ham-socne. See Steenstrup, pp. 348-349. The word seems to have come into Eng. during the time of the Danes in England, though both elements are Eng. as well as Scand. See Kluge, P. G.2 I, 933.
Hammald, adj. domestic. Douglas, II, 26, 7. O. N. heimoll, heimill, domestic, O. Sw. hemoll, Norse heimholt. Excrescent d after l quite common in Scand. and appears in Sco. in a few words. See fald. ”

“ The O. E. word is speld. Cp. Fr. espalier.
Spenn, vb. to button, to lace. Jamieson. O. N. spenna, to clasp. Norse spenna, lace, spenne sb. a buckle, Dan. spænde, Sw. spänne, to lace. The O. E. word is spannan, without umlaut. The meaning as well as the form of the Sco. word is Scand.
Sprack, adj. lively, animated. Jamieson. O. N. sprǽkr, quick, strong, sprightly, Norse spræk, spry, nimble, Dan. spræk, M. E. sprac. This is one of a few undoubted Scand. words found in South Eng. diall.
Spil, sb. a stake. Douglas, III, 250, 16. O. N. *spílr, variant of spölr. Cp. Norse spil, in the diall. ”

“ Philotus = "Philotus, A Comedy imprinted at Edinburgh by Robert Charters, 1603." Published by the Bannatyne Club. Edinburgh. 1835.
Anc. Pro. = Collection of Ancient Scottish Prophecies in Alliterative Verse, 1603. Published by the Bannatyne Club. 1833.
Poet. Rem. = The Poetical Remains of Some of the Scottish Kings, containing "Peblis to the Play," "Christ's Kirk on the Green," "The Gaberlunzie Man," and "Ane Ballad of Good Council," ed. George Chalmers. London. 1824. ”

“ Frecklit, freckled, adj. flecked, spotted, differing slightly from the Eng. use. Douglas, II, 216, 5; Mansie Wauch, 18, 5, "freckled corn." O. N. freknur. See Kluge and Lutz, and Skeat. In M.W. above: "The horn-spoons green and black freckled."
Frend, sb. relation, relative. Wyntoun, VII, 10, 354. O. N. frændi, kinsman, O. Dan. frændi, Norse frænde, Sw. frände, id. O. E. frēond, O. H.G. friunt, O. Fr. friond, friund, M. L. G. vrint, "friend." Cp. the Sco. proverb: "Friends agree best at a distance," relations agree best when there is no interference of interests, Jamieson. ”

“ Applegarth, Cogarth, Auldgirth, Hartsgarth, Dalsgairth, Tundergarth, Stonegarthside, Helbeck, Thornythwaite, Twathwaite, Robiethwaite, Murraythwaite, Lockerby, Alby, Denbie, Middlebie, Dunnabie, Wysebie, Perceby, Newby, Milby, Warmanbie, Sorbie, Canoby, Begbie, Sterby, Crosby, Bushby, Magby, Pockby, Humbie, Begbie, Dinlaybyre, Maybole, Carnbo, Gateside, Glenholm, Broomholm, Twynholm, Yetholm, Smailholm, Langholm, Cogar, Prestwick, Fenwick, Howgate, Bowland, Arbigland, Berwick, Southwick, Corstorphine, Rowantree, Eggerness, Southerness, Boness, etc. ”

“ O. N. a in originally close syllable before r remains a: bark, carl, carp, farrand, garth, harth, scarth, swarf, and harsk (O. Dan.) .
O. N., O. Dan. a in close syllable > é in blether, forjeskit, welter.
a in close syllable > ē (ay, ai) in aynd, baittenin.
a in close syllable remains a, written o in cog.
O. N. a in originally open syllable regularly becomes ē, written a, ai, ay: dasen, flake, maik, scait, etc. ”

“ Apr in O. N. as applied to persons means "harsh, severe" (Haldorson) .
Assil-tooth, sb. molar tooth. Douglas, I, 2, 12. See Wall.
At, conj. that. O. N. at, Norse, Dan. at, to be regarded as a Scand. word. Might in some places be due to Celtic influence, but its early presence, and general distribution in Scand. settlements in England, Scotland, Shetland, etc., indicates that it is Scand.
Aweband, sb. "a band used for tying cattle to the stake." Jamieson, Lothian. O. N. há-band, "vinculum nervos poplitis adstringens" (Haldorson) . ”