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A selection of my photographs, many from Edinburgh throughout the year.   Also photos from Scotland, London, Iceland, Italy, Hong Kong and elsewhere    Many old maps of Edinburgh (Old Town, New Town, while City), Leith and Newhaven.  Includes several old transport maps and a comparison of old maps with recent aerial photos.   Old engravings, mailly of Edinburgh scenes.  Some from the 1820s, some from the 1890s,  some others - includes many hand-coloured examples from the 1820s.   News from Edinburgh today  -  Events, Collections, Buildings and Gardens, Transport   This site includes     1. Post card portraits taken in studios in Edinburgh:    2. Post card views either takeen/published by Ediburgh photographers or views of Edinburgh, or both.y Edinburgh    Views of Edinburgh, grouped into three sections:     1. Street views:    2. Buildings:    3. Around Edinburgh   Views of transport around Edinburgh  -  Horse drawn trams and buses, cable cars, electric trams, buses and a few railway photos.  Also several maps of Edinburgh's bus and tram routes.   Summary of the updates added to this site each month since the site was launched   Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

Local Language

Edinburgh Names

and

Slang

Please scroll down this page, or click on one of the links below:

COLOURS

The colours of the numbers (1-4) below match the colours of the four sections below.

1.

Edinburgh - Colloquial Place Names

2.

Edinburgh - Speech and Slang

3.

Edinburgh -  Expressions

4.

Edinburgh - Sweets

5.

Acknowledgements

6.

Questions

 

1.

Edinburgh
and Leith

Colloquial Place Names

Here are colloquial names for some of the places in Edinburgh, many of them taken from emails that I have received, recording people's memories of growing up in Edinburgh.

Perhaps somebody will tell me more about some of these places.

Peter Stubbs:  October 8, 2008

A

Admirality Street

This is how we used to pronounce Admiralty Street, Leith.

(Note the extra 'i')

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 15, 2010

Aggie Kate

The State Picture House

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  March 8, 2010

The Alabam

The Alhambra cinema

"The Alabam or Bam (Alhambra cinema) was on the corner of Springfield Street, now gone."

Pauline Cairns-Speitel, Old Town, Edinburgh;  October 3, 2008

Albert's

"A fish and chip shop at the top of Kirkgate, - black, green and white (I think) with a steady passage of customers.

A great place for the Teddy Boys to hang around.  The great thing is that it never stopped ordinary folk going in."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 6, 2009

Andy Dam

"This was the 'bridge crossing' section of Water of Leith at Anderson Place, a kids' fishing territory."

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Leith:  Sep 17 + Oct 2 +  4, 2008

Antaygi Street

Antigua Street

"When I grew up, Edinburgh folk didn’t seem too keen on words ending in ‘-ua’ or ‘-ue’. Hence the pronunciations ‘Antaygi Street’ and ‘Montaygi Street’"

Kim Traynor:  Tollcross, Edinburgh:  September 27, 2009

Auld Reekie

Edinburgh

Given this name from the time when the many crowded houses in the Old Town burnt wood and coal.

reekie = smoky

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  January 13, 2009

"I always thought the name referred to the reek from its many domestic chimneys as some early photographs would suggest.

It appears other authorities differ; they ascribe 'smell' (disgusting is implied) as its meaning from association with the insanitary practice of 'gardyloo!' when the cadgers (porters) had failed to call for the refuse"

George T Smith, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada:  Jan 13, 2009

"It is said that the Fifers* could tell it was dinner time from the smoke or reek of Edinburgh as the fires were banked up for the evening meal."

* Fifers were people who lived in Fife, across the Firth of Forth from Edinburgh.

Stuart Burgess, Devon, England:  September 17, 2009

Aunties

"A shop in Viewforth frequented by Boroughmuir school pupils).  It sold Vantas, an aerated fruit-flavoured drink."

George T Smith, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada:  January 13, 2009

B

Back Canongate

Photographs of the Dumbiedykes area of Edinburgh by Wullie Croal  -  mid 20th century ©

"Holyrood Road was always called the 'Back Canongate'."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  October 7, 2008

The Balconies

Dumbiedykes Road  -  no traffic, just a pram. ©

The Balconies were houses with balconies on the west side of Dumbiedykes Road, opposite The Big Green.

Jean Rae, who has sent memories of Dumbiedykes to the EdinPhoto web site used to live in The Balconies, at 34 Dumbiedykes Road.

Jean Rae (nee Aithie), South Side, Edinburgh:  April 2006

The Bam

The Alhambra cinema

"The Alabam or Bam (Alhambra cinema) was on the corner of Springfield, now gone."

Pauline Cairns-Speitel, Old Town, Edinburgh;  October 3, 2008

The Alhambra Picture House, on the corner of Springfield Street and Leith Walk, now demolished.

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 17, 2010

Banana Flats,

Banana Block

Cable Wynd House Leith

  A 9-storey local authority housing block in Leith:  204 flats, first occupied 1962 - so named because of its curved shape.

"Parliament Square in Leith used to be where the Banana Block is now."

John Stewart, Livingstone, West Lothian, Scotland:  Nov 16, 2009

"The Banana Flats at Leith won an award, albeit that it was the chunkies (toilets) that overlooked the Forth.  Could others please add to this?"

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 21, 2009

Barberry Coast

This was the area of the Shore between the dock gates and Bernard Street Bridge - so called by seamen who'd visit the place of the same name in San Francisco. 

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 15, 2010

Barrie's Trip

An outing from the Grassmarket Mission
(See below.)

"I'd like to find some photos of the Barrie's Trip.  This was an annual outing for 'pare bairns' (poor children) to Spylaw Park or Colinton Dell, run from the Grassmarket Mission.

We even had a song:

A'm no gaun tae Barrie's trip

A'm no gaun again

A'm no gaun tae Barrie's trip

Fur it ayways comes oan rain."

J Kelly:  March 28, 2009

Robert McGrouther also remembers chanting this song on Barrie's bus trips.

Acknowledgement:  Robert Mcgrouther, Munlochy, Black Isle, Ross & Cromarty, Scotland May 14, 2009

The Bassy

The Embassy Picture House at Pilton

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  November 29, 2009

Bennetts'

"We had our bonfire too, and it was set up in Bennett's', a large bit of waste ground within Wilkie Place, Leith

David Barrie, Adelaide, South Australia, December 22, 2008

The Bev

The Beverley Picture House

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  March 8, 2010

The Big Canyon

"The Wee Canyon and the Big Canyon. These were shale bings (unofficial adventure playgrounds!) on the Lang Loan* and at Straiton."

* The Lang Loan ran from Straiton to Edgehead.

David Bain:  Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England:  September 21, 2009

The Big Green

The Big Green, seen from the greens in front of 'The Balconies', Dumbiedykes Road ©

"The Big Green was the area in front of 'The Balconies' housing in Dumbiedykes Road"

Jean Rae (nee Aithie), South Side, Edinburgh:  April 2006

The Big Hotel

Saughton Prison

"A facility where a number of persons whose behaviour had varied from the rules of society were housed, justifiably or otherwise."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  January 21, 2010

The Big Mixie

"The Big Mixie was an area of land on the west side of Orchard Brae, across the road from the Wee Mixie.

The Big Mixie was bigger than the Wee Mixie and much more overgrown and therefore thrilling wasteland  -  totally undeveloped circa 1962.

I got lost in it as a wee boy and a police search was instigated!  When I was located, oblivious to any fuss, my dad was so furious with me

Keith Main, London:  December 19+20, 2008

"I lived at 10 Learmonth Crescent from 1957 until 1989.

The waste ground between Learmonth Ave. and Orchard Brae was called the Mixie and the area across Orchard Brae towards Jeffrey’s Nursery in front of Daniel Stewarts was called the Sheepa.   I’ve never heard of it being called the Big Mixie."

Ian Young, Hawick, Borders, Scotland:  September 18, 2009

Blackie

Photograph taken by Charles W Cushman in 1961 -  Blackfriars Street, Edinburgh Old Town ©

"Blackfriars Street was known as 'Blackie' to anyone who lived there or who had friends who lived there."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  October 7, 2008

The Blackies

Blackford Hill

Paul Anderson:  October 8, 2007I

Bloody Mary's Close

A long steep close behind Chessel's Court in the Royal Mile.

"When I lived at No 8 Chessel's Court, the only access to the rear was by a corner staircase between No 8 and the next house (I think, 8b) which led under the building to a long steep close known as Bloody Mary's Close.

This was about six or eight feet wide with high stone walls on either side and led all the way down to Holyrood Road.  When I attended St Patrick's School this was a short cut, rather than go by the main roads, up the Canongate and down St Mary's Street."

Tony Ivanov, Bo'ness, West Lothian, Scotland:  July 16, 2009

However, George T Smith tells me that he found an entry on the RCAHMS web site saying that Bloody Mary's Close was one of several alternative names for Plainstone's Close, the other names being:

-  Bonnie Mary's Close

-  Thomson's Close

-  Year's Close

George T Smith, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada:  July 16, 2009

The Botanics

The south side of the Palm House  -  Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh  -  October 2007 ©

Royal Botanic Gardens, Goldenacre

"We spent a lot of time in the summer at 'The Botanics'  having a roam around and a picnic for free, even although picnics were banned."

EdinPhoto Guest Book:  G M Rigg,  April 7, 2009

Bow Tow

A resident of Newhaven

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  November 27, 2009

"Although I am not a Bow Tow (Newhavener) as a resident of Newhaven, I have used Mr Crolla's store in Main Street for over 50 years."

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 6, 2010

The Brae

Arthur Street, Dumbiedykes

"My mates included guys from Eastie, Middle Arthur Place and the Brae."

J Kelly:  March 28, 2009

Breadalbaney Street

This is how we used to pronounce Breadalbane Street, Leith.

(Note the extra 'y')

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 15, 2010

The Brickies

The Big Green, seen from the greens in front of 'The Balconies', Dumbiedykes Road ©

"The Brickies were houses, made of bricks, beside 'The Big Green' in Dumbiedykes Road."

Jean Rae (nee Aithie), South Side, Edinburgh:  April 2006

The edge of The Brickies can be seen on the extreme left of this photo.

Peter Stubbs:  April 2006

The Broad Pavement

"Parliament Square, Henderson St opposite The Vaults, at Leith"

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Leith:  Sep 17 + Oct 2 +  4, 2008

The Brody

The Broad Pavement, Parliament Square, Leith

"To us, this was 'The Brody'.  We used this name as children, all those years ago, and took it from our parents."

John Stewart, Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland

The Bughouse

"Our name for The Blue Picture House (later the Beverley.

Others may have given the name to their local flea pit."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  March 8, 2010

The Bunkey

The North British Rubber Co.  It used to be at Fountainbridge

Paul Anderson:  October 8, 2007I

C

Caley Station

Princes Street Station (built in 1893 for the Caledonian Railway) below the Caledonian Hotel at the West End of Princes Street.

"Till the day it closed, in 1965, I never heard the station referred to by its British Railways name  -  'Princes Street Station'."

David Scott, Doha, Qatar:  October 19, 2009

"On the way back from a visit to the Meedies (Meadows), I used to call in to the Caley Station for a bit of free entertainment."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia,:  January 6, 2010

Candles Close

Tolbooth Wynd

"Somebody remembered her grandmother calling it that."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  March 8, 2010

The Cappy

The Capitol Picture House

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  March 8, 2010

"The Capitol Cinema, now a bingo hall at  Gordon/Manderson Streets.

It was famous in the 1950s for its Cappy Concerts and talent contests on a Sunday night, and Kiddies' Film Club on Saturday mornings."

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Leith:  Sep 17 + Oct 2 +  4, 2008

The Cat's Nick

Rocks at Salisbury Crags in Holyrood Park

"The Cats Nick, which is immediately above The Giant Steps which are accessed just up towards Jimmy’s (James Clark School) about 200 yards from the Holyrood roundabout."

Jack Craig, Silverknowes, Edinburgh:  March 2, 2009

"We roamed over every inch of the park, the vast majority of times unaccompanied by an adult. We were really rather wild and adventurous pre-1950.

To be able to call yourself 'one of the gang' you had to scale the Crags at the 'Cats Nick'."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh

The Channel

Kirkgate, Leith

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 15, 2010

The Coalie

"Down Coburg Street, 100 yards on the right, formerly a coal yard used by a coal merchant.  It's now part of Water of Leith Walkway.

Locals still use the term."

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Leith:  Sep 17 + Oct 2 +  4, 2008

Cockie Dodgies,

Cockie Dudgeons

A yard at Broughton, approximately where Lothian Buses' Central Garage is now, at Annandale Street.

"It was a big yard off East London Street, always full of old vehicles, mainly army if I remember correctly."

Archie Bell, Broughton History Society (BHS) Newsletter, Summer 2009

"In my boyhood, it was occupied by a contractor called Cockburn, who gave his name to Cockie Dodgies."

Albert Mackie, Evening News, quoted in BHS Newsletter, Summer 2009

"In his poem, 'Fitbaw in the Street' written when he was a student in 1926, Robert Gairloch described boys, dodging away from the Police, going via Cockie Dudgeons, the Sandies and the Coup on their way to Puddocky."

John Dickie, Broughton History Society Newsletter, December 2008

"It was Cockie-Dodgies to me.  I knew it because it was behind what was then Cramond's Garage, owned by a cousin of my father."

Ronnie Cramond, Broughton History Society Newsletter, Summer 2009

"No-one we've heard from recognised the name 'Cockie Dudgeons'."

John Dickie, Broughton History Society Newsletter, Summer 2009

The Commy

The Commonwealth Swimming Pool

Paul Anderson:  October 8, 2007I

The Colonies

Reid Terrace, Stockbridge, Edinburgh  -  an engraving based on a photograph by Ross & Pringle ©

The terraces of houses in Stockbridge built in up/down style with ground floor access from the street on one side and upper from the street on the other side of the houses.

To confuse non-residents, the Colonies are named as buildings, not streets.

David Scott, Doha, Qatar:  October 18, 2009

In fact, as well as the Stockbridge Colonies, there are seven other groups of colonies houses in Edinburgh.  They are at:

Abbeyhill
Leith Links
Lochend Road
North Fort Street
Shandon
-  Pilrig  (Shaw Colonies)
Slateford  (Flower Colonies)

Peter Stubbs:  October 18, 2009

Commando Buildings

"These buildings were in East Cromwell Street, off Coburg Street, which was blocked off at both ends by a high brick wall.

The the old disbanded tenements there were used during the war for war games by the Home Guard."

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Leith:  Sep 17 + Oct 2 +  4, 2008

Coppie

Sherriff Brae, Leith - 1982 ©

or

The Coppie

Corporation buildings OR a play area between Corporation buildings.

The 'coppie' in this photo was at Sheriff Brae beside Leith Hospital.  The photo was taken in 1982, prior to demolition of the housing.

John Stewart, Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland:  October 6, 2009

This referred to the Corporation housing at the foot of Mill Lane/ Sheriff Brae.

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Leith:  Sep 17 + Oct 2 +  4, 2008

Corry

Corstorphine

Maurice Dougan, Edinburgh:  September 11, 2009

Corrie Woods

"The 'Corrie Woods' at Corstorphine were great for adventures - no parental or adult supervision, so you could make fires and boil water for tea and climb trees and play soldiers or cowboys and indians."

Stuart Burgess, Devon, England:  September 17, 2009

Corstorphinny

See 'Pronunciations' below

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia,:  December 21, 2009

The Cut

From Trinity down to the back of the Peacock Inn in Newhaven.

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  March 8, 2010

The Coup

Somewhere in the Broughton area

"In his poem, 'Fitbaw in the Street' written when he was a student in 1926, Robert Gairloch described boys, dodging away from the Police, going via Cockie Dudgeons, the Sandies and the Coup on their way to Puddocky."

John Dickie, Broughton History Society Newsletter, Dec 2008

"This may be The Destructor - i.e. the Corporation Refuse Dept at Powderhall"

Alex Dow, Broughton History Society Newsletter, Summer 2009

Crummel Street

This is how we used to pronounce Cromwell Street, Leith.

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 15, 2010

The Cut

This is the name we gave to the section of Craighall Road linking Newhaven with Stanley Road.

It called 'The Cut' because the terrain was steep and had to be excavated to reduce the gradient prior to the road link.

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 17, 2010

D

Danger Woods
Craigmillar

Craigmillar Castle Estate  -   backgreens and open spaces ©

The Danger woods were in area 4 of this map of Craigmillar.  Johnni Stanton recalls when he lived nearby in the 1960s:

"Across from Craigmillar Castle Avenue, looking at Craigmillar Castle, is the present Craigmillar Country Park, which used to be the Danger Woods, where there were huts holding the last of the fireworks from the gunpowder factory that used to there. Hence the name 'Danger'.  We found lots of gunpowder and a Verey pistol there."

Johnni Stanton, Craigmillar, Edinburgh;  October 31, 2008

The Deanies

Dean Woods, half way along the Lang Loan*

* The Lang Loan ran from Straiton to Edgehead.

David Bain:  Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England:  September 21, 2009

The Dell

Colinton Dell

Maurice Dougan, Edinburgh:  September 11, 2009

Diggers' Bar

"A popular bar at the point of Angle Park Terrace, Ardmillan.  Its correct name is 'Athletic Arms', also sometimes called 'The Sportsman Bar'  But, of course, a sports bar today is a bit different now, with non-stop football on TV."

Danny Callaghan, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland:  November 4, 2009

"Diggers was the bar between two cemeteries, Dalry and North Merchiston.  It was a frequent haunt of the grave diggers."

Danny Callaghan, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland:  November 8, 2009

Doak Place

This is how we used to pronounce Dock Place, Leith.

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 17, 2010

The Dobies

Regent Road Park

"Holidays were great times.  We played for hours in the Dobies (Regent Road Park) or the Lundies (London Road Park)I think we climbed every rock on the crags at some point or other."

John Welsh, Gracemount, Edinburgh:  September 5, 2008

"Kids would make their way through the bushes  in the Dobies, to a stone parapet overlooking the eastern end of the Calton Tunnel.

Steam locomotives leaving Waverley Station would suddenly emerge with their steam shooting upwards into the open air.

The driver or fireman would almost always wave to the watching youngsters. It seemed a secret place and, because of the drop, was more dangerous than any of us realised at the time."

Kim Traynor, Tollcross, Edinburgh:  September 24, 2009

The Dom

The Dominion Cinema in Morningside

Maurice Dougan, Edinburgh:  September 11, 2009

Doubties

Madame Doubtfire's Rag and Bone Shop

"Further up the hill at Stockbridge, was Doubties. It stank of cats' pee and wet old clothes !!"

Keith Main, London:  December 20, 2008

The Dumbie

Looking down on Dumbiedykes and out towards Edinburgh Castle from Salisbury Crags  -  probably around the 1950s. ©

"A shortened version of Dumbiedykes"

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  October 7, 2008

The Dump

Corporation Rubbish Tip

"In the 1940s and 1950s, 'The Dump' was a large hole filled in by the Corporation with the city rubbish, in those days mainly ashes from coal fires.

When it was completed, top soil was added and grass seed sown and trees were planted around the sides.  I was one of the many pupils at Broughton Secondary School who planted trees in 1953 to celebrate the Coronation.  It is now known as St Mark's Park."

Jim Suddon:  February 20, 2009

The Dummy

Edinburgh and Dumfriesshire Dairy

Paul Anderson:  October 8, 2007I

The Dungeons

The area around the front of the old Royal High School in Regent Road, that was generally forbidden to pupils

David Scott, Doha, Qatar:  October 18, 2009

E

Eastie

Photograph of Tommy Valance, Jimmy Broadbent and Bella Gold (nee McMillan) in East Arthur Place, Dumbiedykes, 1958 ©

"East Arthur Place, Dumbiedykes."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  October 7, 2008

Eckybank

  Engraving of old houses at Echo Bank, Newington ©

Newington Cemetery

Paul Anderson:  October 8, 2007I

An area to the side of Dalkeith Road at Newington

David Bain, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England:  December 30, 2008

Eldo

The Eldorado Dance Hall, Leith

"The Eldo, as we knew it had dances and other functions, I think wrestling in more recent times."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  November 29, 2009

 

Eldorado - a two-part auditorium in Mill Lane, holding wrestling and dancing functions, since demolished.

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 17, 2010

F

The Figgy

Figgate Pond, Portobello  -  July 2008 ©

"Figgate Pond or 'The Figgy' as we used to know it in he 1950s, was the pond  down behind St. John’s school in Portobello."

Paul Anderson:  October 8, 2007I

The Figgie Burn

Figgate Burn, Portobello

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  March 8, 2010

Fire Brigade Street

Junction Place, Leith.  We called it Fire Brigade Street because the fire station was there.  It is still there now, but has been converted into housing.

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 17, 2010

Fishy Tamson

W Thomson's Shop and Van  -  St John's Road, Corstorphine ©

William Thomson, Fishmonger and Fruitier,
104 St John's Road, Corstorphine

Ian Thomson, Lake Maquarie, New South Wales, Australia:  March 23, 2009

The Forth

"The Firth of Forth, but usually just called the Forth"

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  January 2, 2010

The Foundies

"People who lived in East Pilton might know this better than others.  It was the foundations that were laid for the school which was eventually erected - Ainslie Park School or College. 

We used to leap from a single brick wall to another wall and think it was exciting. Not recommended."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  November 27, 2009

Front Street

20-30 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh  -   Photograph  taken 2008 ©

"Nicolson Street was always called the 'Front Street'."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  October 7, 2008

"The main road  from South Bridge to South Clark Street is known by  'Southsiders' as the Front Street."

Paul Anderson:  October 8, 2007I

G

The Gaff

The County (originally 'The Rio') Cinema and Bingo Hall, Wauchope Avenue, Niddrie.

Joe Currie, West Lothian, Scotland, 7+8 December 2007

Gampers

Those who attended The Gamp disco in the Royal MIle.

"Does anyone know Sanders, George Kelly, Graham Gourley, Black Eddy, Tommy or Big Davie who went off to India, all of them Gampers?

They all used to start from the Wee Windaes bar on the High Street before going to the Gamp."

Lyndsay (formerly Linda)  Montgomery, Old town, Edinburgh:  Oct 25, 2008

Gang Hut

Our gang hut was an Anderson Shelter which was built during the war to protect from falling bombs.  There were lots of places with them.

It was a place where you could meet in secret, away from parental view, and plan daring deeds.

Everybody tried to secrete things from the house, bits of rope or food and the like.  I think the gang hut sprang up from watching movies about  American youngsters.

 Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 7, 2009

The Giant Steps

Steps, close to James Clark School on the west side of Holyrood Park

"Many a time, while living in Montague Street, as a 10 year old, I and my friends would climb The Giant Steps then up The Cat's Nick.

If only Mother had known, she would have killed me."

Jack Craig, Silverknowes, Edinburgh:  March 2, 2009

Giant's Brae

The larger of the two small hills on Leith Links.

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  March 8, 2010

The Glassworks Stair

"The first tenements along Rossie Place was  'The Glassworks Stair', inhabited by staff of the Edinburgh Crystal Works in Edina Place."

Eleanor Dzivane,  January 27, 2009

Goodals

A place at Abbeyhill where items collected for bonfires were stashed.

"We used to collect all kinds of things for our bonfire on November 5.   We stashed them at the back of the greens in a place called 'Goodals'.  Then, we made the fire on the wall of the school."

Ella:  January 26+27, 2010

The Grassy

Grassmarket

"I'm surprised no-one has given the colloquial name for the Grassmarket 'The Grassy' and  Tollcross as 'Toley'.  Surely we were not the only family to use them?"

Anita Razzell (nee Canale), Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, Canada:
December 31, 2008

H

Henny

Dumbiedykes Survey Photograph - 1959  -  Beside the steps leading into Holyrood Park ©

An area where hens used to be kept at the end of Heriot Mount, beside Holyrood Park.

"You asked the question: 'What is the ornate structure in the corner with four steps leading to it?'

Well, I'm happy to tell you, it led round to the back green, or the 'Henny' as we kids called it.  I believe it was called this because they used to keep hens there years before."

Joyce Ritchie, London, England, September 18, 2005

Hermie

Hermiston Park Primary School

"The Centenary of Hermitage Park Primary School comes up in May 2010 Does anybody know of any early photos of 'Hermie'?"

Brendan Pollitt, Edinburgh:  December 6, 2009

High Street

Raeburn Place, Stockbridge

"Our family used to play a game whereby we tried to remember all the shops of Raeburn Place (the High Street to folk from 'Stockaree' as we called Stockbridge)"

Keith Main, London:  December 20, 2008

High Street Pictures

New Palace Cinema, High Street, Edinburgh - Late 1970s ©

"The New Palace, High Street, never got its full name.  It was always just 'High Street Pictures'. "

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  October 7, 2008

Holy Corner

The junction of Morningside Road, Colinton Road and Chamberlain Road, a crossroads near Church Hill with a church on each corner.

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  March 8, 2010

Hole in the Wall

There were several of these:

 One was in Bristo Place (in a pub?)

 One was in Pilton.  It led to West Pilton and Muirhouse flats.

-   One was  in Leith.

Others might be able to add to this list.

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  November 27, 2009

"This was a long, narrow pedestrian tunnel under Leith Central Railway Station, prior to the demolition of the station and erection of Scotmid.

It made a short-cut from Leith Walk via the tunnel entrance at Crown Place to Glover Street (now demolished), Ferrier St (now demolished), Manderston Street and Gordon Street."

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Leith:  Sep 17 + Oct 2+ 4, 2008 and  Mar 18, 2010

I, J

Jackie's Backie

OR

Jacey Backys

An area of waste ground near Henderson Street, Leith.

"We weren't allowed bonfires in Henderson Street, but used to have a huge one on waste ground over from Shades (potato merchants) that we called Jackie's Backie."

Willie Hutton, Edinburgh:  January 14, 2009

"I lived at No 18 Fort lace, for the first ten years of my life, from 1968.  This was a ground floor flat with a livingroom/kitchen, toilet, coal cupboard and bedroom.

We used to play opposite on scrap bit of land we called Jacky Backys."

Annie (nee Richardson):  March 12, 2009

Jimmy's

James Clark School, St Leonard's

"I went to Castlehill from 1945 until the school closed.  I then went to Jimmie's until 1955."

John McCall:  February 20, 2009

The Jungle

1.  This was the area of the Shore between the dock gates and Bernard Street Bridge.

2.  It was also the name for King's Wark Pub.

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 15, 2010

K

Kaydie Street

This is how we used to pronounce Cadiz Street, Leith.

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 17, 2010

The Khyber Pass

Jane Street, Leith

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  December 15, 2008

Kimly Bink

This was how some people pronounced Comely Bank  (not far from Stockaree).

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  March 15, 2010

The Kinnegars

"There was a place close to Chester's farm, near Rosewell, which we called 'The Kinnegars'.

There, we used to pick brambles, raspberries, strawberries, blackcurrants, which all grew wild.

We also used to collect rosehips and sell them to our school Headmaster, Mr Hector MacPherson, a formidable gentleman, who gave us 6d per pound."

Pat Reid, Edinburgh:  Message in EdinPhoto guest book:  Dec 7, 2008

The King's Park

Holyrood Park

"A lot of people now call the park, the Queen's Park. 

I remember people calling it the King's Park until long after the 1953 Coronation."

Kim Traynor, Tollcross, Edinburgh:  September 2, 2009

The Klondike

Grand tenements at the corner of Hawthornvale and Lindsay Road, Newhaven - so christened because the date they were build related to the Canadian Gold Rush

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 17, 2010

L

Giant's Brae

The smaller of the two small hills on Leith Links.

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  March 8, 2010

Land's End

The trawler 'Gregor Paton' returning to Granton Harbour in the mid-1960s ©

The end of Granton Western Breakwater and Pier, close to the harbour entrance.

(It's a long walk to get there from the shore!)

"Here is a picture of 'Gregor Paton' returning to Granton in mid-1960s, showing one of the West Pier steam cranes at Land's End"

John Dinwoodie, Granton, Edinburgh:  April 6, 2009

Leither

A person from Leith

Johnni MacKenzie-Anderson, Craigmillar, Edinburgh:  November 8, 2009

Libby

Liberton

"As a youngster in Arthur Street, Dumbiedykes, I remember getting the No 7 or 37 tram to Libby Dams.  It seemed like going to the other side of the world."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  December 5, 2007

Lieberton

See 'Pronunciations' below

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia,:  December 21, 2009

The Loan

Grange Loan (Edinburgh South Side)

Frank Wilson, Golden Beach, Queensland, Australia: Feb 26, 2010

Lockies

Lochinvar Camp   -   A Hero's Home ©

Lochinvar Camp   -   1951 ©

The playing fields to the north of Wardie School (on the East side of Granton Road) were known as Lockies in the 1970s.

This was the site of Lochinvar Camp, a naval training establishment in the 1940s.

The camp was passed to Edinburgh Council in 1946 and was used for the next ten years to house homeless families who did not qualify for council housing.

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  November 15, 2008

Low Road

A group of six children on the 'Low Road' at Upper Viewcraig, Dumbiedykes, Edinburgh ©

"Here is a photo taken on  the 'Low Road', the area at the front of Upper Viewcraig Row.

I was born in 32 Upper Viewcraig Row in 1949 and lived there for eight years."

Bob Hunter, Edinburgh:  December 30, 2008

The Lundies

London Road Park

"Holidays were great times.  We played for hours in the Dobies (Regent Park) or the Lundies (London Road Park)I think we climbed every rock on the Crags in King's Park at some point or other.

John Welsh, Gracemount, Edinburgh:  September 5, 2008

"This was the perfect place for playing ‘Robin Hood’ after seeing one of his adventures at the Eastway or the Regent cinemas.

Incidentally, up until it was banned at the time of the Reformation, a ‘Robin Hood’ pageant was held annually on the slopes of Greenside below the Calton Hill. He was as popular up here as in Nottinghamshire"

Kim Traynor:  September 25, 2009

The Laurie Street

"The old cinema behind Woolworths at Leith.  It had several names, one being the Salamander.

Up until the mid-1940s, you could get entry for a jam jar.  It was a bit of a flee pit.

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Leith:  Sep 17 + Oct 2 +  4, 2008

M

Madearie Street

This is how we used to pronounce Madeira Street, Leith.

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 17, 2010

The Meedies

"The Meadows"

Paul Anderson:  October 8, 2007I

"On the way back from a visit to the Meedies, I used to call in to the Caley Station for a bit of free entertainment."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia,:  January 6, 2010

Middly

Looking down on Dumbiedykes and out towards Edinburgh Castle from Salisbury Crags  -  probably around the 1950s. ©

"Middle Arthur Place, at  Dumbiedykes."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  October 7, 2008

The Mighty Block
Craigmillar

A cycle route, near Craigmillar

"We would take the road from Craigmillar Crossroads, along Peffermill Road, turn left up Bridgend into Old Dalkeith Road, continue up to Edmonstone, then turn left along towards the road up to where the City Bypass is now.  We'd then turn left again, up the Wisp Road, continuing down to the Wisp Crossroads, then turn left along Niddrie Mains Road and back to Craigmillar Crossroads.

For a bunch of 10-year-olds who just built their first bikes from parts scavenged at the City Dump on Old Dalkeith Road, that was a good long trip round the 'block'!"

Johnni Stanton, Craigmillar, Edinburgh;  October 31, 2008

Mixie

"I played in a piece of waste ground between Orchard Brae and Learmonth Avenue in the ‘50s known as the 'Mixie'. Does anyone remember it?"

Lindsay Russell, Edinburgh:  November 6, 2008

"I lived at 10 Learmonth Crescent from 1957 until 1989.

The waste ground between Learmonth Ave. and Orchard Brae was called the Mixie.

I think it was called Mixie because all the building products for the building of the Comely Bank/Learmonth houses were mixed roughly in that area.

I have copies of maps dated 1914 and 1933 which show cranes in what appears to be a compound at the west end of Comely Bank Grove.

I can also remember there being an area of compacted sand which we played in as kids."

Ian Young, Hawick, Borders, Scotland:  September 18, 2009

Montaygi Street

Montague Street

"When I grew up, Edinburgh folk didn’t seem too keen on words ending in ‘-ua’ or ‘-ue’. Hence the pronunciations ‘Antaygi Street’ and ‘Montaygi Street’"

Kim Traynor:  Tollcross, Edinburgh:  September 27, 2009

Morningsaid

See 'Pronunciations' below

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia,:  December 21, 2009

The Mound

A group of six children on the 'Low Road' at Upper Viewcraig, Dumbiedykes, Edinburgh ©

"This photo, taken at the Low Road, Viewcraig, Dumbiedykes The wall on the left was round what we called 'the mound'.

I don't know what its purpose was but I suspect it harboured an air raid shelter during the war.

It certainly was somewhere we played on quite a lot."

John (Iain) McEvoy, Craigentinny, Edinburgh:  Jan 6, 2009

N

The Nash

The New  International Club, a dance club in Princes Street

"When I was a lad, back in the early-1970s, we used to almost live in the International Club on Princes Street.

By that time, it had been renamed the 'NEW International Club' or simply 'The Nash'. Every Saturday night we would be there as soon as the pubs closed at 10pm."

David Sanderson, Lake Forest, California, USA:  May 22, 2009

Niddron

A person from the Greater Craigmillar area.

"The term 'Niddron' was coined by myself and Alice Henderson (Craigmillar Festival Society Assistant Organising Secretary - Planning) back in the 1970s and refers to any and everyone from the Greater Craigmillar area. I use it a lot - but imagine my surprise to find that it's commonly used by lots of Niddrons these days!"

Johnni MacKenzie-Anderson, Craigmillar, Edinburgh:  November 8, 2009

O

The Op

The Operetta House cinema, Chambers St

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  March 11, 2010

O, P

Paps of Fife

East and West Lomond  (hills in Fife, seen from Edinburgh)

"Opposite Edinburgh, on the other side of the Firth are the 'Paps of Fife' I don't know if that was an Edinburgh name for the hills or a general geographical reference as in the 'Paps of Jura'."

Stuart Burgess, Devon, England:  September 17, 2009

The Pend

 Part of Gorgie Road

"From about 1942 until about 1955, I lived in what we called the 'pend' right next to Davie's Cafe, which is now the kids farm in Gorgie Road."

Alex McEwan, Australia:  June 4, 2008

The Picky

The Picturedrome

"The Picturedrome was a cinema in Easter Road.  We called it we called  'The Picky'.

 That's where we went for the Saturday matinee.  We were pushed along a wooden form as far as possible to get us all on."

Ella:  January 26+27, 2010

The Piggery

"A large piece of waste ground at the foot of Ballantyne Road, probably so named because at one time were kept here in the 17th/18th century.

Ballantyne Place overlooked this piece of waste ground, prior to the demolition and rebuilding of Ballantyne Road.

Just after  the war, Wingy Robertson fenced it off and used it to store Government excess military vehicles that he sold off"

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Leith:  Sep 17 + Oct 2 +  4, 2008

The Plantations

The Big Green, seen from the greens in front of 'The Balconies', Dumbiedykes Road ©

Looking towards 'The Plantations' from Dumbiedykes Road after 'The Brickies' had been demolished. ©

The Plantations were an area of trees, on the western edge of Holyrood Park, close to Dumbiedykes Road.

The Plantations can  be seen on this picture, and are just visible between the houses at the left-hand side of the photograph of The Big Green (above).

"I remember running down Dumbiedykes Lane (the road that leads straight ahead in the top picture, opposite).  The road then turned left and went to Holyrood Square.  We used to dreep over the wall into the plantations."

Jean Rae (nee Aithie), South Side, Edinburgh:  April 2006

The Plowt

Engraving from 'Old & New Edinburgh  -  Fleshmarket Close ©

"This was a nickname for Fleshmarket Close."

Pauline Cairns-Speitel, Old Town, Edinburgh;  August 29, 2008

"No-one knows why this was a nickname for Fleshmarket Close.  It may have been because it was muddy at the bottom of the close."

Kim Traynor, Tollcross, Edinburgh:  December 27, 2009

Poaly Oaly Close

"This was our name for Old Fishmarket Close"

Jane Jones, Cambridgeshire;  August 15, 2008.

Porty

Portobello

"I remember the Figgy Burn at Porty"

Jim Irvine:  January 12, 2009

Porty Pool

Portobello Bathing Pool.

An open air pool with a 'wave machine', situated beside Portobello Power Station.

It opened in 1936 and was demolished in 1980.

"I have great memories of Porty Pool.  I'm sure, in the '50s and '60s, there was no time limit.  You took your towel and sandwiches and sunbathed on the terraces."

Danny Callaghan, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland:  November 12, 2009

The Provvy

Leith Provident Coop

"Aitken & Niven were outfitters to a lot of the schools in Edinburgh but, as my wife informed me, not to Leith Academy whose school uniforms were sourced from the Provvy."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  November 27, 2009

Powdie

Powderhall dog track

Keith Barker Main:  December 19, 2008

Puddockie,

Puddocky,

Puddockie Park

Four boys at Puddockie ©

"The Puddockie was that part of the Water of Leith at Canonmills.

My mother used to talk about collecting frogs’ spawn here, so there must have been a large frog population!"

Lindsay Russell, Edinburgh:  November 6, 2008

"Puddockie Park furnished kids with frog spawn or tadpoles, that your mother promptly disposed of when you took them home."

EdinPhoto Guest Book:  G M Rigg,  April 7, 2009

"This photo was taken at 'Puddockie', at the bottom of Logie Green Road.  The boys in the photo are  Jimmy Callender, Davey Callender,  George (Doddie) Thompson and  Billy Paton."

Jim Callender, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada:  April 9, 2007

"Water of Leith at Canonmills, home to puddocks"

Jim Duncan, New Brunswick, Canada,:  May 22, 2009.

"What we called fishing, at that young age, was going to Puddockie (a section at the Water of Leith, just over the bridge and near the old allotments) with our nets and jars for sticklebacks."

John Welsh, Gracemount, Edinburgh:  September 5, 2008.

"On the Water of Leith at Warriston Road.  It was kids' fishing for tiddlers' territory.  It was where the bridge crossed a section of the Water of Leith, just past Warriston cemetery."

Q, R

The Rocks

Open space in the grounds of The Royal High School at Barnton.

David Scott, Doha, Qatar:  October 18, 2009

The Rooms

The Assembly Rooms, Leith, a Dance Hall, now flats, opposite Nobles Bar, Constitution Street

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 17, 2010

The round house

The front section, upstairs on a tram

"On the top deck at the front of the tram was a small section, which we called the round house.  It had a sliding door which could be shut.  So we used to go in there and lock the door if it had a snib."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 20, 2009

S

St Tam's

St Thomas of Aquin's High School

"St Tam's is a long established (since 1880s) High School."

Ian Stewart:  November 12, 2009

Sally Ann

The Salvation Army HQ in Bangor Road.

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 17, 2010

Samson's Ribs

"Our name for the basalt rock columns on the roadside above Duddingston Loch in Holyrood Park."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  October 7, 2008

The Sandies,

The Sandy Hills

"The 'cobbled street, off Rodney Street, north of the shops, leading to elevated waste ground was Heriothill Terrace, and the waste ground was 'The Sandy Hills'."

Jim Duncan, New Brunswick, Canada:  May 22, 2009

"In his poem, 'Fitbaw in the Street' written when he was a student in 1926, Robert Gairloch described boys, dodging away from the Police, going via Cockie Dudgeons, the Sandies and the Coup on their way to Puddocky.

Elsewhere, Robert Gairloch, describes his family's allotment as 'a poor bit of ground named 'The Sandies' , opposite our house (109 Bellevue Road), a disused sandpit."

John Dickie, Broughton History Society Newsletter, Summer 2009

 

The Scabby Alan

"I recall the Salon Picture House in Baxter's Place, opposite Union  Street, being known as the 'Scabby Alan'.

I also recall that we were  always thrown out the side door at exactly the point in the main  feature, B film or cartoon at which we were admitted.  I never fully  understood the logistics of keeping track of the entry point so many  children !"

James McEwan:  April 6, 2009

Scabbie Alice

The Palace Picture House, at the foot of 'The Walk'.

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  March 8, 2010

The Scabby Lala

"The La Scala cinema was always called the Scabby Lala by us street urchins."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  October 7, 2008

The Scotchie

Dumbiedykes Survey Photograph - 1959  -  Prospect Place ©

"This was the waste ground behind the Pleasance Trust, where we Arthur Street keelies played footie.  I've never seen or heard an explanation of this name"

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  October 7, 2008

The Sheepa

"The waste ground between Learmonth Ave. and Orchard Brae was called the Mixie and the area across Orchard Brae towards Jeffrey’s Nursery in front of Daniel Stewarts was called the Sheepa."

Ian Young, Hawick, Borders, Scotland:  September 18, 2009

Shirrie Brae

This is how we used to pronounce Sheriff Brae, Leith - part of Mill Lane and Coal Hill.

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 17, 2010

Skinny Woods
Craigmillar

Craigmillar Castle Estate  -   backgreens and open spaces ©

The Skinny Woods were in Area 9 of this map of Craigmillar.  Johnni Stanton describes the land lying to the south of the eastern end of Craigmillar Castle Avenue in the 1960s:

"Across from that part of the Avenue were Sandy's Boys Club, and a cornfield leading to Greendykes along the old Skinny Woods."

Johnni Stanton, Craigmillar, Edinburgh;  October 31, 2008

The Slidey Stane

OR

The Slippery Stane

Tam Croal and his brother, Brian, on the Slidey Stane in Holyrood Park ©

A large flat stone that children played on close to the St Leonard's border of Holyrood Park.  It lies between the site of Jeannie Deans' Cottage and the entrance to the park beside the Royal Commonwealth Pool.

Several people have sent their memories of this stone to the EdinPhoto web site, including Tam Croal, the boy on the left in the photograph opposite.

Tam Croal, Edinburgh:  February 26+27, 2009

Smokey Brae

Restalrig Road South

"So named because of the railway bridge over it and the adjoining railway yard at Meadowbank.  The steep slope was great for guiders"

Kim Traynor,  Tollcross, Edinburgh:  September 24, 2009

The Snakie

"The curving footpath from Saxe Coburg Place to Glenogle Baths."

Keith Main, London:  December 19, 2008

Soldiers' Hill

The slope on the western side of Arthur's Seat, Holyrood Park, facing Dumbiedykes.

"The park, when I was young, was the most magical of play grounds, with soldiers marching up and down what we called the soldiers' hill,  and using live rounds at the Hunters Bog firing range.

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  March 1, 2009

The Steamie

Public Laundry

"In Henderson Row, just before the Edinburgh Academy, there was a place my Mother used to call 'The Steamie'.

Women in headscarves and a 'fag' (cigarette) hanging from the lower lip, wheeling pram (perambulator)  frames containing tin tubs full of dirty laundry, used to frequent it."

Allan Dodds, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England:  October 21, 2008

Stockaree

Stockbridge

Keith Main, London:  December 20, 2008 and
Shirley Thompson, South Africa:  March 29, 2009.

The Store

"St. Cuthbert's Co-op (later, Scotmid) was always referred to as 'The Store'.

Ask anyone over the age of 40 from Edinburgh, their mum's store number.  I bet they still know it!"

Mary Frances Merlin (nee Monteith), France:  October 6, 2008

T

The Tally Toor

or

The Tally Tower

Painting by Frank Forsgard Manclark, 'The Leith Artist'   -   Leith Sands and the Martello Tower ©

A defence tower built on the shore during the Napoleonic Wars, just east of Imperial Dock.

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 17, 2010

The Martello Tower

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  November 27, 2009

Teapot Close

Albany Series postcard  -  Gilmerton Cross Roads  -  Posted 1906 ©

A small street off Drum Street, Gilmerton

"I have found out more on 'Teapot Close'.  The story behind it is that, when the men had finished their meals and went off to work the women went down to the close and emptied their teapots down a drain that was there.  Hence the name."

Archie Young, Moredun, Edinburgh:  May 1, 2008

The Tiv

Tivoli cinema, Dalry Road

Stuart Burgess, Devon, England:  September 17, 2009

The Tinny

The washhouse

"At Gorgie, I used to use Davie's Cafe a lot when I was younger.  I also went to Tynecastle School and used 'The Tinny' (washhouse).

Janet Porteous (nee Janet Horne Cleland Eagle):
Northern England:  November 4, 2008

Toley

Tollcross

"I'm surprised no-one has given the colloquial name for the Grassmarket 'The Grassy' and  Tollcross as 'Toley'.  Surely we were not the only family to use them?"

Anita Razzell (nee Canale), Qualicum Beach, British Columbia, Canada:
December 31, 2008

The Toll X

A Picture House at Tollcross, opposite Glen Street.

I went there once, to the cheap seats which were wooden forms.  I didn't all asleep.

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  November 29, 2009

Toni's

or

Tony's

St Anthony's RC Secondary School, Lochend Road, Leith.

"After St Mary's RC Primary School in York Lane, I went to St Anthony's Sec (Toni's)."

Danny Callaghan, October 19, 2009

"So much for my non-education at Tony's. I'm sure others will have had similar experiences at that  ehhhhhhhhhhhhm School??."

Ron Goldie, Peine Germany: August 8, 2009

Too Tat

Tootat

" 'Too Tat'  or 'Tootat' was young and not-so-young kids' 'smart speak' for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia,:  December 22, 2009

Tumbler's Hollow

The unnatural looking large depression in Bruntsfield Links between Whitehouse Loan and Bruntsfield Place.

Is there any substance to the scary rumours of plague-graves in that area?

David Scott, Doha, Qatar:  October 18, 2009

The Tunnel
through to Letty's

Bingham Railway Bridge  -  July 2008 ©

"In the 1950s and early 1960s, we called the railway bridge at Bingham 'the tunnel through to Letty’s'.  We were sent there many times by our mum when she desperately needed sugar or soap or something,

Just after the tunnel on the right was a tiny shop, Letty’s.  It was very handy in an emergency and luckily she always had sweeties too, like the 'Penny Dainty', much loved by us all."

Mary Frances Merlin (nee Monteith), France:  October 6, 2008

U

Up the Pend

into Connell's Close, Leith

"To get to Connell’s Close, you went through the arch from St Andrew Street and it came out in Tolbooth Wynd, almost opposite Michael’s Cafe and Annie’s.

I used to live in St Andrew Street and used it all the time, although we used to say we were, ‘going up the pend’

Jan Brown:  June 15, 2009

V

The Vantie

"The Confectionery shop in East London Street was known as 'The Vantie'. 

It had a machine on the counter which was for the purpose of making Vantas drinks.  I never had one myself, but we used to buy Vantas cubes which we sucked."

Jim Suddon, Morningside, Edinburgh:  October 17, 2008

The Venchie

Children's playground 'The Venchie' - Craigmillar, 1973 ©

A children's play area at Craigmillar.

(Is this, perhaps, an abbreviation of 'Adventure Playground'?)

'The Venchie' is taken from the title of a photograph shown to me by
Sandra Givan, Craigmillar, Edinburgh:  October 14, 2008

W

The Walk

'Scabbie Alice' (The Palace Picture House) was at the foot of 'The Walk'.

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  March 8, 2010

Wash Hoose

Same meaning as steamie above

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 4, 2009

The Watchie's Hut

"These structures were to be found at various places in Edinburgh where buildings were under construction."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  November 27, 2009

The Wee Canyon

"The Wee Canyon and the Big Canyon. These were shale bings (unofficial adventure playgrounds!) on the Lang Loan* and at Straiton."

* The Lang Loan ran from Straiton to Edgehead.

David Bain:  Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England:  September 21, 2009

The Wee Hole

"We ( the Hammy Boys) used to store our bonfire materials in a space between the tenement in Hamilton Street and the Fort wall, known to all as the "wee hole", to keep it safe from the marauding hordes of raiders from Wilkie Place and Lapicide Place.  We used to light our bonfires at Bathfield."

John Cavanagh, County Durham, England:  December 27, 2008

The Wee Mixie

"An area off the east side of Orchard Brae, off Learmonth Crescent.  This was smaller than the Big Mixie on the other side of Orchard Brae."

Keith Main, London:  December 19+20, 2008

Westy

Looking down on Dumbiedykes and out towards Edinburgh Castle from Salisbury Crags  -  probably around the 1950s. ©

"West Arthur Place, Dumbiedykes."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  October 7, 2008

Whale Brae

The hill at the north end of Newhaven Road, leading down to Main Street, Newhaven.

"There is a tradition that the Whale Brae got its name from a school of seventeen whales which grounded itself there."

Tom McGowran in his book 'Newhaven-on-Forth'

Woolies

Woolworths store

It traded for 100 years until 2008.

"He knocked that oot o' Woolies."
(He stole it from Woolworths.)

Terry Cox, Fairmilehead, Edinburgh:  December 22, 2008

X, Y, Z

Yairdheeds

This is how we used to pronounce Yardheads, Leith - the street running from Cables Wynd to Henderson Street, parallel with Great Junction Street.

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 17, 2010

The Yards

The tarmac area between the back of old Royal High School in Regent Road and the Calton Hill retaining wall.

David Scott, Doha, Qatar:  October 18, 2009

Numbers

92

"St Cuthbert's Office Building used to be at 92 Fountainbridge.  It was simply referred to as '92'."

Paul Anderson:  October 8, 2007I

121

Head Office of the Church of Scotland  is, at 121 George Street.

'The Scotsman' newspaper referred to "The corridors of power at 121."

Peter Stubbs, October 8, 2008

 

Pronunciations

Corstorphinny
Lieberton
Morningsaid

"As youngsters we used to have a go at the posh by saying the the places where they lived, differently.  It might have gone thus:

"Eh think she has gone to Morningsaid or Lieberton or Corstorphinny, but aim not sure which"

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia,:  December 21, 2009

 

2.

Edinburgh Speech

and

Slang

Here are some of the words that have been used in Edinburgh.

Many of these are not unique to Edinburgh.  However, those who have emailed me tell me that all have been in common use in Edinburgh.

Peter Stubbs:  October 8, 2008

This page originally started with a small collections of 'Slang' words and expressions, but has since expanded to include other words used in Edinburgh.

I have been reminded* that 'Slang' is perhaps not the most appropriate heading for this list., so I've changed it to 'Edinburgh Speech and Slang'.

* Thank you to Hamish Scott who wrote:

"The words you list under slang are not slang.
They are part of the Scots Language."

Hamish:  September 24, 2009

A

a ba' hair

a very small amount, possibly less than half a millimetre

"I remember tradesmen saying this, meaning make just a tiny amount of." adjustment to a fitting

Allan Dodds, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England:  January 1, 2010

afore

before

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  February 2, 2010

" 'Afore ye go' used to be a whisky advert for Bell's Distillery."

Allan Dodds, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England:  February 4, 2010

anaw

as well

"You can add this to your list anaw"

Maurice Dougan, Edinburgh:  September 11, 2009

anent

in front of

Frank Wilson, Golden Beach, Queensland, Australia: Feb 26, 2010

"I never used this word, but Frank used it."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 29 2009

ashet

serving plate

"From the French, 'assiette'."

David Bain, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England:  December 30, 2008

argy-bargy

squabbling

"We used to hear our Dad say, sometimes, when coming into a room where several of us were squabbling about things:

'Stop all that argy-bargy'."

Mary Frances Merlin, nee Monteith, France:  January 14, 2009

arty farty

someone who was regarded as a bit limp wristed or a bit posh.

"Seen that yin.  He's a bit arty farty."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 17+30, 2009

Auld Leerie

the gas lamp lighter

Keith Main, London, England:  December 30, 2008

away wi' the fairies

not mentally sound

John Gray, Portobello, Edinburgh

B

ba' heid

fat-faced person

Keith Main, London:  December 30, 2008

"I believe that  ba' heid  =  ball-head."

Douglas Beath, Burnie, Tasmania, Australia:  January 2, 2009

backie

1.

A ride on the back of a bike.
See also 'croggie' below.

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  January 17, 2009

"The bike rider stood and pushed the pedal.

You (having the backie) sat on the seat with your legs hanging out."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 25, 2009

2.

back green

"I enjoyed the film on Arthur Street.  I saw the backie where our cat, Toodles, would kill the rats."

Eric Gold, East London, England:  March 27+28, 2009

baccy

tobacco

"He's awa doon the road for some baccy for his pipe."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 23, 2009

back green

grass area behind the houses or tenements

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  January 17, 2010

baffies

down-at-heel shoes or slippers

"This takes me back to the late-1950s when we would visit my grandparents in Harewood Drive, Craigmillar.

My grandparents were scornful of those local ladies who would make their early morning visit to the shops in dressing gown, curlers, rolled-down stockings and baffies.

I can see them now, their cigarettes permanently in the corners of their mouths!"

David Bain, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England:  December 30, 2008

bagwash

launderette

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  February 28, 2010

bahookie

butt, bottom, backside

"Be nice or I'll skelp your bahookie!"

George T Smith, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada:  January 9, 2009

See also "Ma bahookie" below.

Kim Traynor, Tollcross, Edinburgh:  February 4, 2010

bairn

child

"From my recollection, even in St Leonards and Dumbiedykes in the 1930s, adults were careful not to use sweary wurds in front o' bairns."

George T Smith, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada Dec 19, 2008I

baith

both

"He held it in baith hands.""

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia,:  January 16, 2009

ballup

balup

the fly on men's trousers

"Dae yer ballup up right 'fore ye gang oot."

George T Smith, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada:  January 9, 2009

"My father, who was born at Lady Lawson Street and is now aged 83, tells me that in his time, this was pronounced balup  (i.e. 'bal up' rather than 'ball up'.)"

Dave McDougall, Edinburgh:  December 8, 2009

baloney

nonsense

"That's Baloney = you are misinformed"

"What he was telling me was a right load of baloney"

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  November 29, 2009

balup

See ballup above

bampot

barmpot

idiot

Forbes Wilson, near Guildford, Surrey, England:  January 29, 2009

idiot,  originally a drunk

People would drink barm, the skimmings from fermenting liquor, which was used to leaven bread.

David Bain:  Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England:  September 21, 2009

bamstick

crazy person

Theresa Lapping, Cork, Ireland:  April 7, 2009

Bangladesh

McEwans Special (Spesh)

"This is rhyming slang used today."

Jim Cairns, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland:  Dec 20, 2008

Barleys!

Barley / Parley

"The childhood expression 'Barleys!' was used with the accompaniment of two thumbs-up signs, to indicate that one was no longer playing a game such as tig."

Allan Dodds, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England:  October 15, 2008

"Barley or Parley (from French, parlez = you speak) used mainly by children at play to call a halt usually because one side is not playing to the traditional rules, so a 'Parley' is called to settle mutually acceptable rules."

George T Smith, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada Dec 5, 2008I

barrie

good, enjoyable

"That wis a barrie night oot."

Terry Cox, Fairmilehead, Edinburgh:  December 18, 2008

"Here are a few mair barrie wurds!" -  said by David Bain when he sent me some new words for this page.

David Bain:  Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England:  September 20, 2009

batter

on the batter = out drinking

Keith Main, London, England:  December 30, 2008

"The word batter was also used when talking about giving someone a hiding, e.g.

 'They battered him senseless'."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  January 1, 2009

bauchle

1.  wee man

Keith Main, London:  December 19, 2008

2.   shambling awkward person

"He was a wee bauchle of a man."

George T Smith, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada:  January 9, 2009

bauchle along

move in a clumsy shambling way

George T Smith, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada:  January 9, 2009

bap

roll or bun

"Mum can ah hiv a bap fur supper?"

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  November 29, 2009

bawbee

A Scottish ha'penny

"as in a ballad that we used to enjoy at The World's End bar in Edinburgh, upstairs on a Friday night, of which the first verse runs:

"I bought a wife in Edinburgh for a bawbee
And got a farthing back again tae buy tobaccy wi'
And wi' you, and wi' you, and wi' you, my Johnnie lad,
I'll dance the buckles of my shoon (shoes)  wi' you ma Johnnie lad"

Allan Dodds, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England:  December 19, 2009

bawbees

coppers, pennies

Keith Main, London:  December 30, 2008

beaut

pronounced 'byoot'

a really fine example, as in "that car's a beaut".

Kim Traynor, Tollcross, Edinburgh:  September 22, 2009

bed closet

a small room with a bed, adjoining the main bedroom.

Eric Gold, East London;  October 8, 2008

"Bed closets varied in location:

-  in our Canonmills flat, the bed closet was off the best room.

-  In our Morningside flat, it was located off the hallway."

Allan Dodds, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England:  January 14, 2010

beetlecrushers

a certain kind of footwear worn by Teddy Boys.  This one had a ribbed sole.

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  February 28, 2010

beezer

a really hard winter's day

"It's a right beezer today"

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  Nov 29 + Dec 30, 2009

Allan Dodds replied:  "The words 'beezer' and 'brammer' were interchangeable in my day. They each meant a superlative exemplar of a type and could be applied to almost anything, not just weather."

Allan Dodds, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England:  January 4, 2010

belt

See get the belt below

Kim Traynor, Tollcross, Edinburgh:  September 23, 2009

ben

through

e.g. answering: "Where is he?"

"He's ben the room." =
He's in the other room"

Maurice Dougan, Edinburgh:  September 11, 2009

Bertie Auld

cauld (cold)

"This is rhyming slang used today."

Jim Cairns, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland:  Dec 20, 2008

besom

a girl who was a brat,
derived from a broom for sweeping

Jean Lennie, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada:  Aug 4, 2009

"Women called other women a ‘besom’ all the time, a kind of euphemism for ‘bitch’"

Collins dictionary gives ‘besomrider’ as an old term for a witch.  For ‘besom’, it says ‘term of reproach’, implying slatternliness, laziness, impudence.'

I recall people saying it about others after arguments. The ‘besom’ had had the cheek to talk back or had perhaps been foul-mouthed.

I think it was also used if the woman had done something sneakily, behind one’s back. The most common usage was 'She’s a right besom!' "

Kim Traynor, Tollcross, Edinburgh:  September 22, 2009

bevvied

totally drunk

"I was bevvied on Friday night

Kim Traynor, Tollcross, Edinburgh:  December 27, 2009

bevvy

alcoholic drink (beer, not spirits)

"Are you going for a bevvy?"

Kim Traynor, Tollcross, Edinburgh:  December 23, 2009

bide

stay, wait, watch

"Ah'm just biding here till ma man comes back."

"Ah'm just biding ma time,  till he comes back."

"Ah'm just biding ma time,  keeping an eye on the clock.

-  In the first sense, the woman is just staying until her husband returns.

-  In the second sense, she has been waiting too long, and her man will get it in the neck when he returns.

-  In the third sense, she is waiting, possibly for an appointment.

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  January 8, 2010

bing

spoil heap of waste material from mining or quarrying

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh:  September 26, 2009

birl

spin round

"Ma heid wis birling, ah had sae much tae drink"  or  "He birled me round the dance floor".

George T Smith, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada Dec 8, 2008I

bissies

plain clothes police, or CID

Eric Gold, East London;  October 8, 2008

blether

friendly chat

Eric Gold, East London;  October 9, 2008

chatter aimlessly,
talk nonsense (like haver)

"Och stop blethering",

"Ignore him, he's just a blether

Kim Traynor, Tollcross, Edinburgh, September 23, 2009

blizzie

"To 'have a blizzie' was to encourage the chimney to flare up to  save having it swept."

George T Smith, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada Dec 5, 2008I

blootered

uncontrollably drunk.

"I was reminded of the word 'blootered' after reading the word 'stocious' (similar meaning) in tonight's Evening News."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  December 15, 2008

boak

gag, throw up

"It was so mingin it would gaur ye boak"

mingin = disgusting
gar / gaur = make, induce or compel

George T Smith, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada:  January 13, 2009

bob

shilling

Allan Dodds, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England:  December 19, 2009

boddie

person

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  February 1, 2010

bogey man

A bad man where children were concerned.

"If you don't go to bed, the bogey man will get you"

See also 'The bogey man'll get you!' below.

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 23+30, 2009

boggin'

smelly

Keith Main, London:  December 30, 2008

boiling

A small portion of potatoes given to 'tattie howkers'.

"In the late-1940s and early-1950s, we used to be excused school to go to the tatties. It was a great shock to the system to have to work at what was a back-breaking job.

We also used to be allowed a boiling (a small bag of potatoes) to take home every night."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh,:  November 15, 2008

boney

bonfire  (Bonfires were held on Victoria Day* and 5 November.)

Victoria Day  in Edinburgh is the last Monday before 24 May, the Official Birthday of the reigning Monarch.

"Boneys were always being raided by other gangs.  These raids might end up in 'stone fights' ie stone throwing.

Stone fights were rarely dangerous, although some kid would go home with a lump on his head and his mother would sort us out regardless of which side we were on."

Stuart Burgess, Devon, England:  September 17, 2009

bonny

pretty

Keith Main, London, England:  December 30, 2008

bools

marbles

Jim Di Mambro, South Africa:  December 5, 2008

boracic

skint, short of money

"This is rhyming slang:
boracic lint - skint"

Maurice Dougan, Edinburgh:  September 11, 2009

skint, having no money

rhyming slang
(Boracic lint - skint)

Boracic lint was commonly used on cut knees, etc. on our frequent visits to the Deaconess Hospital.

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  October 10, 2008

bowdie legged

bow legged

"There's Hamish coming down the road. He's that bowdie legged you could drive a 19 bus through the gap."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  Nov 29 + Dec 30, 2009

box player

accordionist

"On the first flat was Davie McIntosh, a popular box player."

J Kelly:  March 28, 2009

Brahms and Liszt

inebriated,  (rhyming slang)

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 23, 2009

"This is definitely Cockney, and may have been picked up from the TV programme, 'Steptoe & Son'.  I don't think many folk around here would regard it as Edinburgh speech."

Kim Traynor:  Tollcross, Edinburgh:  December 27, 2009

"If expressions such as this were fairly widely used as slang in Edinburgh, then I'm happy for them to be included on this list (with an appropriate note about their likely source).

However, the list could become unwieldy, and lose its Edinburgh focus, if I were to include all such expressions that people had heard or read."

Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh, December 27, 2009

brammer

something outstanding

"It was a brammer"

George T Smith, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada January 9, 2009

Allan Dodds added:  "The words 'beezer' and 'brammer' were interchangeable in my day. They each meant a superlative exemplar of a type and could be applied to almost anything."

Allan Dodds, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England:  January 4, 2010

brassic

See boracic above

braw

fine

"It's a braw day."

Terry Cox, Fairmilehead, Edinburgh:  December 18, 2008

"I believe that braw relates to the Scandinavian  bra = good, well. 

(Several, probably many, Scottish words show this connection.)

Douglas Beath, Burnie, Tasmania, Australia:  January 2, 2009

breeks

trousers

George T Smith, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada:  January 9, 2009

brew

See buroo below

brickettes

briquettes

"My wife and her mother used to queue up at Leith Station to get a bag of brickettes (compressed coal dust I believe)

In  appearance they were like small bricks, but black. Each person was allowed one bag, which they transported back on the bus, under the stairs, to their destination.

Those who had a few older youngsters scored.   In my wife's case, she had to carry them up the street, then up four flights of stairs."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 21+30, 2009

"In my day, these were spelled 'briquettes'.  This is a French word meaning cakes.  My school French Dictionary (1934) also gives 'patent fuel' as a translation."

Allan Dodds, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England:  January 5, 2010

bridie

A pastry, generally in the shape of a semicircle, the most famous coming from Forfar.

"Hey, let's go to the bakers for a bridie."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 25+30, 2009

briquettes

See brickettes above

bronco

"Playing on the swings in the local Keddie Park, off Ferry Road, was another way to pass the time on a warm summer’s day.

We did 'broncos' - standing on the swing and making it go as high as you could, then jumping off.

Many a bang on the head was received if you did not clear the swing fast enough."

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh:  March 18, 2010

bru

See buroo below

buckie

whelk

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  February 1, 2010

bully

a term used in conkers See below.

"Individual conkers were rated according to the number of wins notched up.  After 10 wins, the best conkers became 'bullies'. Further wins were recorded as 'a bully 5, a bully 8' etc."

Kim Traynor:  Tollcross, Edinburgh:  September 27+28, 2009

bum-bee

bumbee

1.  bumblebee

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 29, 2009

2.  not authentic

"I remember my mother referring to  modern plaid designs as   'bumbee tartan' - in other words  not  an authentic clan tartan."

Joyce Lamont Messer, Whanganui, North Island, New Zealand, January 21, 2010

bumps

(with reference to skipping)

"When the ropes were cawed sometimes the lasses would jump and try to hold themselves in the air whilst the rope went under them twice.  That was called bumps.

QUESTION:  What was it called when you crossed arms and cawed the ropes as a single skipper?"

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  February 28, 2010

bunker

a kitchen top where the coalman would put the coal

Eric Gold, East London;  October 8, 2008

a kitchen worktop or draining board

Keith Main, London:  December 19, 2008

the buroo

Some have spelt it:

the brew or

the bru

the dole

Keith Main, London:  December 30, 2008

"The bru / on the brew  (re dole payments) is a mispronounced reference to the employment bureau."

Douglas Beath, Burnie, Tasmania, Australia:  January 2, 200

"Brew should be rendered ‘buroo’ because it comes from signing on at the National Assistance Bureau = buroo during the 1930s Depression"

Kim Traynor, Tollcross, Edinburgh, September 1, 2009

C

cadge

borrow

"He wis tryin' to cadge a fag from me."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  Nov 29, + Dec 30 2009

caller herrin'

Fresh herring

"Who will buy my caller herrin'?"

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 29, 2009

This is an old term that comes from the song, "Caller Herrin' ".

The song begins:

"Wha'll buy my herrin’?
They're bonnie fish and halesome farin';
Wha'll buy my herrin’
Fresh drawn frae the Forth
? "

I've no idea if anybody said that in modern times.

Kim Traynor, Tollcross, Edinburgh:  December 29+31, 2009

Allan Dodds replied: 

"My grandmother used to sing this song, accompanying herself on the piano.  It was composed by Lady Nairn in 1821, to go with a  tune by Nathaniel Gow composed in 1798.

My great grandmother, a fisherwoman  from Musselburgh, would not have used the local term "caller", and in any event, the term had died out by the 1890s when my great grandmother was alive.

At the corner of the Lawnmarket and the Mound (just outside Deacon Brodie's) a fisherwoman in traditional Newhaven fisherwoman's dress with a creel used to sell fresh fish and mussels in the 1960s. She may well have used the cry, Caller herrin', but I doubt it as I don't recall it."

Allan Dodds, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England:  January 3+17, 2010

candle

See snotter

Allan Dodds, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England:  November 28, 2009

canny

careful, gentle, etc.

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  October 7, 2008

canny Anny

a bumblebee with a white rear which did not sting.

"When I was a boy in Arthur Street, in our summer forays into the King's Park, or the allotments in the Meadows, we used to catch these in a jam jar with a few daisies or cowslips which we called 'sookie soos'."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  January 6, 2009

canter

hang on to a vehicle, such as a coal lorry

Eric Gold, East London;  October 7, 2008

catchy

a game played with a ball (See below.)

"Our local pigs' bin stood near a lamp post, about outside No 321 in Pilton Avenue.

Our bin was used to stot balls of off.  Being round, this was great fun for catchy, a game where you had to catch the ball before it hit the ground."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  January 14+17, 2010

cat's cradle

"A game that children used to play with a bit of string. The string was fashioned  into a cradle by transferring it from one person to another.  It came out in what was called a cat's cradle"

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 29 2009

caw

1.  See 'caw canny' below

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 29 2009

2.  turn a rope over

"In Street games, mainly played by girls, the ones on the end of the rope did the cawin'.

There was a game that used two ropes being cawed, but I can't remember what it was called (Switchy?)"

Frank Wilson, Golden Beach, Queensland, Australia: Feb 26, 2010

champ

mash

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 29 2009

champit tatties

mashed potatos

"D'ye fancy some champit tatties fur dinner?"

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 17+30, 2009

chancer

con man

"See that Angus.  He's a right chancer."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 17+30, 2009

chap

knock

"There's somebody chappin' at the door."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 7, 2009

chapped hands

sore hands, usually in winter time

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 29, 2009

"Chapped hands were hands cracked  by the cold.  That's redolent of balaclavas, wellies, sledging, etc."

Kim Traynor, Tollcross, Edinburgh:  December 29, 2009

cheese cutter

equipment in children's playground

"It was a beam hung from 2 double arms that swung back and forth in a frame. The beam had metal bicycle saddle shaped seats and a metal grip to hold onto.

The brave kids would take an end each and stand holding the arms and they would 'beam' (boost) the riders higher and higher, as far and as fast as they could."

There was a cheese cutter, a chute or two, a witch's hat, a spider's web and  a couple of roundabouts and swings in the playground where I played on my way back from London Street School."

EdinPhoto Guest Book:  G M Rigg,  June 12, 2009

chennah wallies

false teeth

Keith Main, London:  December 19, 2008

China

mate:    "Hello my old China"
(rhyming slang 'China plate)

"This, and other rhyming slang originated around the 1960s.  It may have represented a  transient linguistic phenomenon, but we used these terms all the time and  possibly invented a few of our own.

Some possibly came from television  programmes such as Coronation Street, but they were avidly adopted by us in Edinburgh, and  used as a sign of being 'with it'."

Allan Dodds, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England:  November 13, 2009,

chippie

fish 'n' chip shop

"In the 1950s, my local chippie was Miele’s in Easter Road where you could buy a pie supper for 1/3d (one shilling and thruppence) on your way home from the Speedway at Meadowbank."

Kim Traynor, Tollcross, Edinburgh:  September 25, 2009

chippie sauce

a brown sauce for fish and chips.

"This is made to a recipe apparently only known in Edinburgh".

Kim Traynor, Tollcross, Edinburgh:  September 25, 2009

Chiselchin

Nickname given to one of the local policemen in the Cowgate

"Talking about Basher Thompson, can anyone remember the other local Policeman, the one we used to call Chiselchin?"

Ron McGrouther, Prudhoe, Northumberland, England, May 18, 2009

chittery bite

"A chittery bite (some called it a shivery bite) was what you had to eat on the bus after a visit to the swimming baths at Dalry or Infirmary Street.  Both baths very cold, as I recall."

Stuart Burgess, Devon, England:  September 17, 2009

chiv

a knife

This is related in some way to the verb 'chivvy', meaning to annoy or aggravate.

Allan Dodds, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England:  November 29, 2009,

choarie

chorie

steal

"Stall yer mangin gadgie and deek at the groanie av jist choaried."

Jim Di Mambro, South Africa:  December 5, 2008

Jim added that he is not sure about the spelling.

"If you got caught choarieing, yer paw would gie you laldie."

Maurice Dougan, Edinburgh:  September 11, 2009

"This word is a kid's diminutive of 'to chore' so the spelling should be 'chorie'."

Kim Traynor, Tollcross, Edinburgh:  September 20, 2009

chuckie stanes

1.  a game using small stones.

"Chuckie stanes or five stanes was a game we played as kids. The object of the game was to throw stones in the air and catch them on the back of your hand.

Any that dropped, you had to pick  up by throwing a stone in the air, picking up your targeted stone, then catching the stone you had just thrown before it fell on the ground.

I think you had to progress to throwing two stones in the air, picking up your target stone, then again catching both the stones previously thrown and so on."

Graeme Fulton, Ormiston, East Lothian, Scotland:  July 15, 2009

2.  white pebbles

"These were sometimes translucent.  If you struck two together in the dark, you'd get a sort of spark.  Try it and you'll see what I mean."

Stuart Burgess, Devon, England:  September 17, 2009

2.  white pebbles

"That sounds like flint."

Kim Traynor, Tollcross, Edinburgh:  December 23, 2009

chunky

Toilets

"The banana flats at Leith won an award, albeit that it was the chunkies that overlooked the Forth."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia,  December 21, 2009

churls

"Churls were small, washed lumps of coal sold in factory-sealed, thick-brown paper bags weighing 28lbs.

I collected one bag weekly from a local general store in West Granton Road when I lived in Royston Mains Avenue in the mid-1960s. The bag was big for a small teenager, so I had to carry it over my shoulder."

Kim Traynor, Tollcross, Edinburgh:  December 11, 2009

chute

equipment in children's playground

"It was a ladder and slide.  They could be quite high up and we discovered that if you could get a bread wrapper (the wax paper kind) turn it inside out then sit on it with the inside down on the slide, it helped to polish or lubricate the metal slide, increasing the speed at which you could whizz down and off the end."

There was a cheese cutter, a chute or two, a witch's hat, a spider's web and  a couple of roundabouts and swings in the playground where I played on my way back from London Street School."

EdinPhoto Guest Book:  G M Rigg,  June 12, 2009

claes

garments worn on the body, clothes

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  February 1, 2010

clap

pat (a dog)

"Don't clap him so hard,  just stroke him gently"

Kim Traynor, Tollcross, Edinburgh, September 23, 2009

clairty, clairty

See clarty below.

"We used to shout "clairty, clairty" indicating the unclean."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 4, 2009

clart

rubbish

"In the 1960s, we used the word 'yad' to mean 'rubbish' or 'clart'."

Allan Dodds, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England:  December 11, 2009,

clarty

dirty

"Look at your hands.  They're clarty!"

Terry Cox, Fairmilehead, Edinburgh:  December 30, 2008

In my family, they said:  'You're clarty behind the ears.'

Kim Traynor, Tollcross, Edinburgh, October 4, 2009

cleg

clegg

big flea

Keith Main, London, England:  December 30, 2008

"To me and my comrades, a clegg was the horrible black creature that inhabited what I think was called cuckoo spit (that looked like frothy spit) on some long grasses.

I believe these creatures had the ability to bite."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  January 17, 2009

horsefly

"They certainly could bite."

David Bain, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England:  March 12, 2009

'Cleg' is a Norse word for horsefly.

Someone told me, just recently, that they were being bitten by these insects on holiday and were taken aback when they heard Swedes using the same word as we use in Scotland.

Kim Traynor, Tollcross, Edinburgh:  September 20+30, 2009

cleip

See clype below

clipe

See clype below

Clippie

bus conductress

"Come on, let's go upstairs.  The Clippie's coming."
(A means of avoiding payment.)

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 4+30, 2009

clipshear

earwig

"Old fence posts were usually crawling with clipshears.  They also got on the rope left outside to hang the laundry."

Ken Smith, Calgary, Alberta, Canada:  December 31, 2008

earwig

"This word seems unknown outside Edinburgh. I've been given many a puzzled look when I've used the word."

Stuart Burgess, Devon, England:  September 17, 2009

"For years, I thought clipshears and earwigs must be separate species. I had seen plenty clipshears, but I was waiting to see my first earwig! 

I remember feeling great trepidation at the prospect because of the old wives’ tale that others must know - that it had a habit of entering your ear while you were asleep, burrowing through your brain and coming out the opposite side.

That gave me many a sleepless night, especially since I didn’t know what it looked like!"

Kim Traynor, Tollcross, Edinburgh:  September 21, 2009

cloaker

"a big black ground beetle.

(Interestingly, the Russian word for beetle is 'clocha'.)"

David Bain, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England:  December 30, 2008

cloot

cloth,  e.g. dish cloth

Jean Lennie, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada:  Aug 4, 2009

close

passage that led to a stair

"Your faither's waitin' fur you up the close.  Oh no!"

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 17+30, 2009

clout

slap, hit

"I often used to hear also another version of an upcoming slap. Mum’s would warn:

'Ye'll get a clout around the ear if ye’r no careful'.”

Mary Frances Merlin, nee Monteith, France:  January 14, 2009

cludgie

outside loo

Keith Main, London:  December 30, 2008

clootie dumpling

"I remember a childhood delicacy a 'clootie dumpling'.  This was like a Christmas fruit cake mix but put in a clean pillow case and boiled.

When cooked, it would be dried in front of the open fire, all the while being turned to get an even, smooth, shiny surface all round.

When it was cool and sliced it was sometimes fried in butter  -  a heart attack waiting to happen, but wonderful

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:  September 21, 2009

clype

cleip

clipe

to tell tales.

"'He wis aye clyping oan his pals."

A clype was someone who did it.

"Away, ya wee clype."

Terry Cox, Fairmilehead, Edinburgh:  December 22, 2008

to rat on someone

Jean Lennie, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada:  Aug 4, 2009

betray trust

"Yer a clype" or "Yea clyped on me" meaning that someone you know had betrayed your trust and told somebody (usually your parents) that you'd done something wrong.

Forbes Wilson, near Guildford, Surrey, England:  January 29, 2009
Forbes was reminded of the word 'kleip' by his 78-year-old mother.

"Some people have spelt the word 'kleip' or klipe' but the correct spelling is 'clype' ."  

[I have changed the spelling above to agree with Kim's comments here.]

Kim Traynor, Tollcross, Edinburgh:  September 20, 2009

"A 'tell-tail-tit'.  One who spilt the beans when they were not supposed to."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 7, 2009

coal cellar

a cupboard in the lobby where the coal was kept, if you never used the bunker.

Eric Gold, East London;  October 8, 2008

collie buckie

colliebuckie

being carried on another kid's back

Keith Main, London:  December 19, 2008

"A colliebuckie is a piggyback. 
A friend from
Bo'ness calls it a 'culliecode'. 

Stuart Burgess, Devon, England:  September 17, 2009

"Collie buckie comes from the idea of carrying coals on your back, as coal merchants did when they delivered it in sacks."

Kim Traynor, Tollcross, Edinburgh:  September 20, 2009

coorie doon

Snuggle down between the sheets at bedtime.

"My mother used to say this to me when I was very small."

Allan Dodds, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England:  November 30, 2009

coorie in

Cuddle up to keep warm

"My mother used to say this to me when I was very small."

Allan Dodds, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England:  November 30, 2009

coo's lick

1. "This seemed to apply mostly to boys who had a stubborn tuft of hair hanging down over their forehead – which would stubbornly resist any attempt by mothers to comb it or brush it in a backwards direction. Brylcream only worked for a few minutes before the tuft stubbornly resumed its rightful place.

The only thing that could overcome the will of the tuft (for a while) was the white concoction hairdressers insisted on putting on young boys’ hair – a bit like wallpaper paste which went instantly brick-hard.

I don’t know what the link is with a cow or, for that matter, a cow’s lick or tongue."

Brian Gourlay, Biggar, Lanarkshire Scotland:  October 8, 2008

2. "The expression 'coo's lick' was also used as below:

After washing your face, your mother would say 'that's a coo's lick'.  In other words,  'get back and wash it properly'."

Andy Duff, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia:  October 19, 2008.

corn beef

corned beef

deaf  (rhyming slang: deif )

"Ye can say what ye want.  He's corn beef."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 17+30, 2009

The Corpo

Edinburgh Corporation Transport Dept

"I was a 'Parcel Boy' from 1957 until I started my Apprenticeship as a Fitter and Tuner with the 'Corpo' in 1958."

Jim Paton, Australia:  November 5, 2009

The Corpy

Corporation buses, as distinct from SMT

David Scott, Doha, Qatar:  October 19, 2009

corrie dukit

corrie joukit

left-handed

"Aye, ye notice he's corrie joukit?"

Keith Main, London:  December 30, 2008

"corrie joukit (I'm not sure how you spelt it) meant 'left-handed'."

Bill Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 21, 2009

cowp

empty by turning over

"I heard at a posh wedding once, wee kids saying to their grandad, on seeing the beautiful big round silver soup spoons “Whit dae ye dae wi that?”

Their grandad replied:

'Jist cowp it ower, son'

meaning just tip it over (into your mouth)."

Mary Frances Merlin, nee Monteith, France:  January 14, 2009

cowp over

fall

"Ah hear Andra cowped over"

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 29, 2009

crackin' on

imparting some news

"What wis he sayin'?

"He wis crackin' on aboot the minister."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia: February 1, 2010

craik

make a noise, especially a bairn

"Away and stop that bairn craiking."

Maurice Dougan, Edinburgh:  September 11, 2009

creamy tartered

cremated

"Did he get buried?  Naw, he was creamy tartered."

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia:  December 21+30, 2009