Do the Scots play Mucklemarket Sweep?
'The Bible tells us not to make graven images, but I'm damned if I hear the word "graven" down the pub'
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Your support makes all the difference.Yesterday we had our linguistic expert, Dr Wordsmith here pursuing the idea that some words are kept artificially alive through their use in a familiar quotation or title, and we asked you to provide further examples...
Yesterday we had our linguistic expert, Dr Wordsmith here pursuing the idea that some words are kept artificially alive through their use in a familiar quotation or title, and we asked you to provide further examples...
Dear Dr Wordsmith: May I draw your attention to the works of Rabbie Burns? The great Scottish poet used many words that have become familiar to us only in his works. For instance, "the best-laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley". I have never seen "agley" anywhere else. And how about "sleekit" in "wee, sleekit, cow'rin, tim'rous beastie"? And how about "sonsie" as in his address to the haggis, "Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face..."? And how about..?
Dr Wordsmith writes: Enough, enough! This advice column is devoted to the evolution of English, not foreign languages! The way the Scots address each other is outwith my scope, as they would say north of the border.
Dear Dr Wordsmith: Very well; let us turn to the English writer whose name is a direct translation of Rabbie Burns - Robert Browning. He wrote a poem called "The Pied Piper of Hamelin". Now, I would wager that you never hear the word "pied" used outside that title. I'd wager that most people do not even know what "pied" means. Why, I would wager that you, Dr Wordsmith, probably do not know what "pied" means?
Dr Wordsmith writes: You may be right, sir, but I have a large dictionary to hand so I can tell you that "pied" means "dressed with patches of different colours". What a singularly useless word. Any more suggestions?
Dear Dr Wordsmith: Yes! "Many a mickle makes a muckle"!
Dr Wordsmith writes: Does it indeed? Is this the dreaded Burns again?
Dear Dr Wordsmith: No, it is an old Scots proverb. It is the equivalent of "Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves". The point is that you never hear "mickle" used elsewhere. At least, I don't.
Dr Wordsmith writes: Nor do I. But then expressions for "big" and "small" are constantly changing. "Maxi" and "mini" were very popular for a while. "Hyper" came in for a while, and "hypermarkets" rivalled "supermarkets". "Micro" and "macro" had their fling. Nowadays big things tend to get labelled "mega-" this or that.
Dear Dr Wordsmith: And small things?
Dr Wordsmith writes: "Nano..."
Dear Dr Wordsmith: So perhaps big shops in Scotland were once called "mucklemarkets"?
Dr Wordsmith writes: Perhaps. And perhaps not. Next suggestion, please!
Dear Dr Wordsmith, May I suggest that the title of Byron's famous poem "Childe Harold" contains the only usage of "childe" you are ever likely to see?
Dr Wordsmith writes: Excellent! I am sure you are right. I wonder what "childe" means ....? No, I don't! Next!
Dear Dr Wordsmith: May I suggest that the annals of cosmetic pharmacy supply many examples of one-off plants? We don't hear much these days of the "mandragora" that Othello got from his chemist's for Desdemona. But then we don't hear much now of the "jojoba" that was all the rage in shampoos just a moment ago. Or "aloe vera", come to that. Or ginseng. Or...
Dr Wordsmith writes: Thank you - that will do! The last thing I want is organic nutters writing in to make a fuss Next!
Dear Dr Wordsmith: I feel that the Bible will provide as many words kept artificially alive as Shakespeare. The Ten Commandments tell us not to make graven images - or they tell the Israelites not to do so - but I'm damned if I hear the word "graven" down the pub. Nor the word "firmament" come to that. And although I don't think the Bible refers to the Holy Grail, it is a well-known image, yet I do not think that grails ever occur in the natural world. What is a grail, for heaven's sake?
Dr Wordsmith writes: Good point. I only wish I knew.
Dear Dr Wordsmith: I'd like to know...
Dr Wordsmith writes: I have just received news that the pubs are open. Some other time perhaps.
Dr Wordsmith will be back soon. Keep those queries rolling in.
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