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Local Language
Edinburgh Names
and
Slang |
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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. |
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1. |
Edinburgh - Colloquial Place Names |
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2. |
Edinburgh - Speech and Slang |
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3. |
Edinburgh - Expressions |
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4. |
Edinburgh - Sweets |
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5. |
Acknowledgements |
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6. |
Questions |
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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
© |
"Holyrood Road was always
called the 'Back Canongate'."
Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:
October 7, 2008 |
|
The
Balconies
© |
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 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
© |
"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
© |
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
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
© |
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
©
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
© |
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
© |
"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
© |
"East Arthur Place, Dumbiedykes."
Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh:
October 7, 2008 |
|
Eckybank
© |
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 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
© |
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
© |
"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
© |
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
© |
"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 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
©
©
|
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
© |
"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
© |
"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
© |
"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 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
© |
"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
© |
"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
© |
"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
© |
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
© |
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
©
|
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
©
|
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
© |
"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
© |
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
© |
"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 |
|
| |