Shetland Words:S

ShetlandDictionary.com - The Online Shetland Dictionary - The free, online, Shetland Dictionary that anyone can edit.

Jump to: navigation, search

To make edits on ShetlandDictionary.com, users must be logged in.


Search the Shetland Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
  • saa = (v) sow seed (saa yun rig)
  • saagin = (n) short period of still water between tides
  • saat = (n) salt
  • sab = (v) saturate, soak up
  • sae = so. A large wooden cooper made tub, usually used to do laundry in.
  • safe = primitive refrigerator. Typically situated immediately to the north of a building, wall etc, and in the shade from the sun when it was at its strongest. Comprised a small wooden cupboard, built around on three sides and over the top by a dry stone wall, which provided a form of insulation and allowed any breeze to filter through and keep the temperature down. An alternative, for anyone with a wooden floor, was to have a small trap door for access, and store perishables within a closed container suspended in the void beneath the floor, the air of which was approx the same temperature as the ground beneath.
  • said fool = (n) lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus)
  • sail = tarpaulin (Probably from the habit of using worn out/redundant boat sails for tarpaulins).
  • sain = (v) absolve
  • sair = sore
  • saithe = (n) the coal fish (Gadus carbonarius) in its third year or maturity
  • sall = shall
  • salpae, scalpae, sculpae = (n) jellyfish
  • sam = (n) same
  • sambord = (n) the end of the haaf line attached to the buoy ropes
  • same = (n) a boatbuilder's nail, the tip to be riveted
  • same = (n) unrefined pig's lard
  • sandy-giddock = (n) sand eel
  • sandyloo = (n) ringed plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
  • sanna = shall not
  • sanveelting, sanveiltre = (n) a disease of the horse brought about by swallowing sand, causing them to writhe and roll about
  • sark = (n)shirt
  • scaap, scaup, skaap = (n) a bed of shellfish
  • scad = a smarting/burning sensation
  • scalp = (v) to denude soil down to the rock, as when peat is carelessly cut
  • scar = (adj) wild, untamed, particularly applied to sheep
  • scarf = (n) cormorant, shag (Phalacrocorax carbo)
  • scart = (v) to scratch
  • scat-brithers = (n) neighbors who share scattald
  • scattald, skattald = (n) common grazing land outside of the touns
  • scaurie, scorie = (n) a young gull
  • scoll = (n) a wooden bowl
  • scooder = (v) singe
  • scoom = scum floating on water. (Dir wis a tide scoom fae Klokki Stak ta Colsa)
  • scoot = birds excrement
  • scootie aalin = (n) arctic skua (Stercorarius parasiticus)
  • scord = (n) notch or V in skyline
  • scorn = mimic
  • scots-willie = (n) a small codling
  • scow = (n) board from barrel (da bairns med shis fae barrel skows)
  • screed = large number, flock (a screed o bairns)
  • scrit = scrape
  • scrit = hurry (He wis atill an awfil scrit)
  • scrithein = teeming with closely packed living creatures (da auld yowe's crang wis scrithein wi maeths)
  • scrittle = scribble
  • scroot = stroke through (of writing)
  • scrottyie = (n) brown dyestuff made from lichen Parmelia saxatilis
  • scudda = (n) sheep hair, left on the animal when wool is rooed
  • scurm = (n) hard skin formed on liquid, eg paint. Also an eggshell
  • sea-pudding = (n) a sea cucumber
  • sedvite = (n) sheep ; see fie (Low 1774)
  • seekin = an female of other than a bovine species in heat
  • seg = Yellow Iris
  • seggie floor = Yellow Iris Flower
  • seggie girse = Yellow Iris leaves, used to make seggie boats
  • seiglè = (n) sail (Low 1774)
  • selkie = (n) seal
  • set = (v) sit (set de doon, boy, we'll hae a yarn). Also used generally meaning 'put in position' (set tauties - plant potatoes), (set a hen - put a broody hen on a clutch of eggs)
  • setteen = (n) a measurement, equivalent to 24 marks or 1 lispund
  • seugin = (n) shoe (Low 1774)
  • shaald = shallow
  • shaan bow = (n) the middle buoy
  • shackle bane = (n) human wrist
  • shaela = grey (wool)
  • shaeth = knitting belt
  • shair = (n) chair
  • shakk = (n) wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)
  • shalder = (n) oyster catcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
  • shallmillens = (n) pieces of shattered eggshells
  • shantie = (n) chamber pot
  • shappin tree = (n) potato masher
  • shappit = Various meanings: Mashed, as in mashed potatoes. Hit/crushed, as in "shappit me tume". Chapped, as in skin. Knocked, as in knocked on a door.
  • share = cutting/harvesting etc a grain crop with a sickle
  • sharg = nag (Da auld besom shargs i my face aa da time)
  • sharl-pin = pin in a wooden hinge.
  • sharn = dung
  • shat = passed excrement
  • shavneshi = (n) sea-word for cat
  • sheek(s) = ingoe(s) to a window or hearth/chimney
  • sheeks = cheeks
  • sheeks = a conversation
  • sheeks = a person who always has a lot to say
  • she-fish = (n) a female seal
  • sheug = the sea (Low 1774)
  • shew = sow with needle and thread
  • shicken = chicken
  • shickenwirt = chickweed
  • shift = a complete change of clothes
  • shiggle = shake
  • shiggly = shakey, unstable, of dubious strength for the task in hand, poorly constructed and/or constructed from inadequate materials
  • shilpit = sharp tasting
  • shitten = defecated
  • shoard = (n) wooden support under the side of a boat to keep it upright (when ashore)
  • sho = she
  • shock = choke
  • shockit = choked
  • shocks = the area of soft loose skin under the jaw and above the neck
  • sholmet = (adj) sheep markings, a colored sheep with a white face
  • sholmit = cow with white face
  • shoodra = (n) a ling
  • shooi = (n) Richardson's skua (Stercorarius crepidatus)
  • shoopiltie = (n) a sea creature, nyugle
  • shoormill = the run of a wave on a beach and the sound of the pebbles as they move
  • shoot = (v) paying out a fishing line, handline or longline
  • shot = A plant which has run to seed/bolted. A bone deformation, typically of a joint, and typically the result of Arthritis etc. The fish caught from one hauling of nets. (Very common amongst fishermen using drift nets to catch herring). Also used as a general term for something which due to the passage of time/use has become deformed to the point it's usefulness is restricted or over.
  • shovelling the potatoes = spading under weeds after potato shoots first break the clods
  • showd = (adv) chewed
  • shue = to back water with the oar, to row a boat in reverse. The Ness men used to shue up to the tide rip of the roost and throw their lines in, then row away quickly and draw their lines with fish from the tide.
  • shug = (n) drizzle
  • shuggy = (adj) drizzly
  • shun = (also, shön) soon
  • shun = (n) small loch, (Ness; shon)
  • shuul = (v) to empty out with a shovel
  • shün = shoes
  • shünie = (n) knife (word used at sea)
  • shüt = (n) soot
  • Shütie = (n) nickname applied to person not given to frequent washing
  • sic, siccan, sicna = (adj) such (siccan a day o dirt)
  • sic an sic = so and so, such and such.
  • siccar = extreme, fierce
  • siclaek = reasonable, not bad
  • sids = (n) husks of corn
  • sig = (v) get (spoken only to a dog) (Go sig 'im)
  • sildin = (n) Herring (Low 1774)
  • silik = (n) a sow with young
  • sill-oot = to wear very thin (of cloth)
  • sill-trow = to wear through in to a hole (of cloth)
  • siller = (n) money
  • sillock = (n) immature coalfish
  • sillock krö = tidal dam created on a beach to trap fish which enter with flood tide.
  • sillock pok = (n) net with metal rim lowered in water with bait inside, lifted when fish entered
  • simgi = (n) sea-word for pig (Foula)
  • simmer dim = summer twilight
  • simmerin toms = Rope loops mounted at each side of the box-bed, originally to hold sheets, but used by women as stirrups during sexual intercourse. (see also dröltin tree and Tiftin Simmond)
  • simmond = rope (simmit in some areas)
  • sin = since
  • sinder = (v) to take apart, dismantle
  • sindry = apart, assunder
  • sink = mild expletive
  • sinknation = curses, multiple swearwords
  • sinna = shan't
  • sinnen = sinew
  • sint = small amount
  • sitooterie = (n) conservatory, lean-to glass house
  • sixern = boat, larger that yoal, six-oared
  • sjolmet = white marked cow
  • skaaler = (n) a wooden booth
  • skaar = A small quantity
  • skadiemans heid = sea urchin
  • skaer = (n) wood joint where parts are joined at an oblique angle to form a continuous length, as in the planking of a clinker-built boat
  • skaily eed = having one eye which looks upwards and/or to the side permanently
  • skar = (adj) wild, untamed (as sheep)
  • skeb = (n) a straw basket which received warm oats or bere from the kiln; rubbed by foot, it helped separate chaff & dust from the grain before winnowing
  • skee, skeo = (n) a dry stone house where fish were hung to dry (stock fish) or sour (blawen fish)
  • skeetik = (n) Squid
  • skeget = (adj) sheep markings, striped with different colors on the sides, not going over the back
  • skegg = (n) sea word for sail
  • skekler = (n) guiser
  • skelp = spank, smack or any blow struck in a similar manner
  • skerrie = small islet, rock
  • skift = a very light, short rain shower
  • skimp = good humor, raillery
  • skin-hale = that which to outward appearances is complete and finished, but the functionality/condition etc of what lies beneath the surface still requires attention. (Yun new hoose is skin-hale, bit dir nivvir touched da insides yit)
  • skirl crake = (n) turnstone (Strepsilas interpres)
  • skitter = diarhoea
  • skoag =(n) thin hard-laid cotton line used for fishing
  • skoe = (n) stone hut used for drying fish and meat
  • skoit = (v) look (hae a skoit at dis)
  • skoodra = (n) the ling
  • skoomfished = (adj) nauseously affected, made to feel sick ( wi da nort wind in da simmer, aa da fok in da toon wis skoomfished wi da guff fae da gut factory)
  • skoorie, skourie = (n) the adult coalfish
  • skorie = (n) young seagull (Larus argentatus)
  • skourdaboggie = (n) the youngest of a family
  • sköl = (n) a mouth disease afflicting horses
  • skövie = (n) a tail
  • skreigh = (v) shriek
  • skroo = (n) corn stack
  • skrottee = a brown dye from stone-rag or lichens
  • skröl = (n) sound made by cattle when frightened
  • skrüf = sea surface (I hailled a good olick, but he cam aff i da skrüf)
  • skruffel = (v) rustle (boy, du manna skruffel sweetie papers ida kirk)
  • skumpie = a poorer quality mis-shaped peat (when dried for fuel), typically from the exposed weather eroded face of a peat bank.
  • skunner = to be fed up with; dislike; scoundrel
  • skurr = (n) an inshore fishing seat
  • skurt = (n) bosom (Sho gaddered da bairn tae her skurt)
  • skurtfoo = gathered in arms
  • skuyk = look
  • skyimp = (n) mocking praise, sarcasm. Also scrimp
  • skyinbow = fiddle tune, Also name of Fiddle making company in Vidlin
  • skyle = look with a squint, particularly when looking in to the sun. Also to look surreptitiously through the corner of an eye or through almost closed eyes.
  • skul = (n) tapered-ended wooden box into which (haddock) line was baited, and from which it was shot.
  • skunie = (n) a knife
  • skyoag = Fenced? enclosure for ducks of geese.
  • skyug = to take shelter, (Vagaland)
  • skyumpie = rough cut peat, first peat cast, first slice of loaf
  • slabbergaucie = (n) a slovenly fellow
  • slag = to become stretched/larger/mis-shapen over time due to normal usage and maintenance (mostly applied in reference to clothing, but can be correctly used in some other situations)
  • slap = (n) collapsed section of stone wall
  • slater = (n) insect, woodlouse
  • sleekit = sly, cunning (he wis a sleekit deevil)
  • slepse = (v) to eat noisily, in an uncouth manner
  • slester = mess, to make a mess
  • slesterin = (adj) untidy, smeared with food
  • slicht = calm, quiet sea
  • sliki = (n) sea-word for conger eel (Foula)
  • slip = (v) release (slip da cat furt)
  • slip = (n) vest/singlet
  • slippit = (adv) liberated
  • slock = extinguish
  • sloob = fish slime
  • sloomin = at a sluggish, sauntering pace
  • slot = (n) cod roe mixed with a paste of flour and fried in grease or suet
  • sludder = falling down, or having fallen down head over heels and producing/ed a useless, unsightly and useless result. Also used to decribe the actions of a person devoid of talent or finesse in the task they are attempting.
  • slunk = (n) a tall, awkward fellow
  • slushit = messy ("slushit craeter")
  • sly = slime
  • small maa = (n) common gull (Larus canus)
  • smirslet = (adj) sheep markings, white around the mouth, head or neck
  • smissling = (n) a shellfish
  • smit = (v) infect, one person to another
  • smookie = a smock, typically used in reference to a type worn by fishermen
  • smooriekin = kiss
  • smore = drown, suffocate
  • smuck = slipper
  • smuks = (n) brogues or shoes made of worsted rags
  • smurlin = (n) bivalve mollusk (Mya truncata)
  • smurr = tiny fragments
  • snaa = snow
  • snaar = (n) turn of the tide, to whirl in a current
  • snaelit = (adj) sheep markings, light colored body with white face
  • snafool, snaw fowl = (n) snow bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)
  • snarl = (n) cord held in the hand which suspends the bysmer and is moved along its length until equilibrium is reached and weight is determined
  • sneester = (v)laugh to oneself, laughing quietly
  • snee =(v) cut ( used at sea)
  • sneck = (n) latch, (yun door keeps openin da wye at da sneck is worn)
  • sneck = (n) (geographical feature), a notch in a hill used as a mead (da sneck i da hill ower da black skerry)
  • sneedled = (adj) sheep markings, a white stripe down the forehead
  • sneg = (n) a sound made by horses
  • snegger = (n) sea word for a horse
  • snep = to encircle with thumb and first finger so that thumb and fingertip touches, or to encircle with both hands so that the tips of all five digits of one hand touches the tips of their equal and opposite numbers on the other hand
  • sney = clip, trim, mow, shear, crop etc etc to a relatively short length
  • snick = (v) switch, (snick on da wireless )
  • snie = of an animal, a small patch of lighter wool/hair on the approx mid forehead on a darker wooled/haired head
  • snorie-bene, snoriben = (n) toy made from wood or bone tied to a length of string and spun through the air to make a snoring sound.
  • snurl = twist in rope (Da tedder wis in a snurl)
  • snurt = nasal mucus
  • snush = snort
  • snöd = the lay of a rope, to twist
  • snyirk = to creak
  • soag = cause to become docile, unenergetic/listless and possibly drowsy. (Fill da bairns we maet t' soag dem, sae dey'll maybe sit arest for wance)
  • soakit = soaked
  • sock = knitting
  • soe = bait cast on sea to attract sillocks
  • soen hol = (n) a hollow in a rock used when chopping up limpets for bait
  • soge = as 'sove' (westside)
  • sokin = (n) stocking (Low 1774)
  • sokin = (n) short period of still water between tides
  • sokket = (adj) sheep markings, legs of a different color to the body giving the impressionof wearing socks
  • solan = gannet (Sula bassana)
  • sole = sill (window)
  • solist = pause, wait.
  • songie = animal of neither sex, or having organs of both sexes, hemaphrodite.
  • sook = (n) drought ( Du needna hing yun oot tae dry, fur ders nae sook ava), suck, suckle/nurse (slip yun koff t' da coo sae he gits a sook)
  • sookit = air dried, sucked, suckled/nursed
  • soolen = (n) the sun
  • soolin = A person or animal that moves very slowly
  • soomin = (adj) soaking wet. Also, swimming/floating (dir wir twartree bits ih firewid juist soomin idda ebb)
  • soopaltie = (n) sea word for a horse
  • soorick = sorrell
  • sorna = no, nothing, no trace of. (dis new computery things, da sorna sense I can makk ih dem avaa)
  • sove = to hit very hard, most commonly, another person, and about the head.
  • soyndick = (n) the eye
  • söal = (n) a sea swell occasioned by a breeze.
  • spaarls = puddings made of coarse beef
  • spaegie = the aches and muscle pains felt, usually the day after, much unaccustomed exercise, as in a day casting peats. Also rheumatic joints in livestock
  • spaek = talk (spaek ta me)
  • spang = (v) jump up
  • speet = (n) a spit or skewer on which fish were strung by head or gills to dry, (v) to hang fish to dry in this manner
  • speets = (n) heavy rains
  • spellik = (n) wood shaving, splinter
  • spency = (n) storm-petrel (Procellaria pelagica)
  • spent = fish after spawning
  • spew = (v) vomit
  • spindrift = sea spray during high winds
  • spinney = (n) spinning wheel
  • spittel = the saliva etc expelled by the act of spitting
  • spleet = split, referred to fish for curing with the backbone removed
  • spleet new = brand new
  • splunder = quite
  • spoag = wheel spoke
  • spoek = spoke, talked (He spoek a lok o dirt)
  • sponget = (adj) sheep markings, dark colored with small white spots
  • sponin = (n) spoon (Low 1774)
  • spout = (n) a razor clam
  • spön = spoon
  • spör = (v) ask
  • spoot = razorshell, leap suddenly
  • spooie = curlew ( alternative 'whaup' is Scots) (Numenius arquata)
  • sprains = rays of light surrounding a light source
  • spread = (n) hand-line fishing gear consisting of lead weight with two extended wire arms
  • sprech = cry, screech
  • spret = rip, tear (I spret da erse o me breeks), also to unravel/undo either purposely or accidentally, particularly of knitted items
  • sprickle = wriggle
  • spricklit = speckled.
  • spring = (n) a reel (dancing)
  • spring = cause (often permanent) physical injury through excessive physical exercise/exertion
  • sproot = (v) to eject forcibly from the mouth (I sprootit showd lempits fur soe ta luk da sillocks in aboot)
  • spunk = an airborne spark from a fire
  • spurins = tidings of things sought
  • spurrietail = earwig
  • squint-eyed fellow = (n) halibut
  • staand = male erection
  • staapil = (n) mouthpiece of a tobacco pipe
  • stab = (n) fence post
  • stab-maul = (n) large hammer for fence posts
  • staig = (n) a one to three year old colt
  • stamerin = (n) reinforcing knee at stem and stern of boat
  • stammareen = (n) the after- or helmsman's seat in a fishing boat
  • stanedera = (n) lichen Parmelia saxatilis used as a brown dyestuff, usually collected in August
  • stanelippen, also staneloop = bruised blood-filled small lump on finger after a sharp nip
  • stanepecker = (n) 1. purple sandpiper (Tringa striata); 2. turnstone (Strepsilas interpres)
  • stank = A ditch
  • stap = a dish of boiled white fish and fish livers (usually both from piltocks) mashed together with an amount of the liver oil added according to personal preference
  • stappit = stopped up, blocked (usually only used to describe the effects of a cold etc on the head/face)
  • start = while (See dee in a peerie start)
  • stauf = walking stick
  • steath = a foundation
  • steek = close, shut. Also punch
  • steekit = closed, thick eg. thick fog ( a steekit mist), punched (I steekit my nev upo his nose)
  • steelbow = (n) a condition of tenancy whereby a landlord provided the tenant with stock, growing grain, straw and implements for a set amount each year and under the condition that the equivalent in quality and quantity should be returned at the end of the lease
  • steen = stone
  • steenbiter = (n) catfish (Anarhichas lupus)
  • steep = immerse in water and leave to soak
  • steepel = (n) pile of dried fish
  • steethe = (n) a shoal of fish
  • steggie = (n) steps in stone walls
  • steggi = (n) rock ledge
  • steid = (n) foundation
  • steid = (n) dense fish shoal (da sillocks wis steidit aff o da skerry)
  • steinkle = (n) wheatear (Saxicola oenanthe)
  • stend = stride
  • steng = (n) boat's mast
  • stendin = striding, walking with great purpose. (I saw him stendin ta da wasterd)
  • stengle = (v) rough repair (I'm stengled up da grind tae had da ram oot) (Stiggle in some areas)
  • stent = (v) stretch ( da pilticks wis dat foo der guts wis stentit)
  • sterfin = cold (It's sterfin oot yunder)
  • steven piltock = (n) a three year old saithe
  • steys = corset
  • stikatullie = a particularly difficult task, usually one which taxes the individual's physical and/or mental strength/stamina and/or is very time consuming. Also used to describe a particularly heated and animated argument, usually between children.
  • stime = having difficult seeing the task in hand properly due to lack of light
  • stinklin = (n) rock pipit
  • stivian piltock = (n) half-grown coalfish
  • stivner = a person of particularly extreme/eccentric and/or contrary/confrontational views and/or behaviours who doggedly sticks to them, and cares not what everyone else may think of them as a result
  • stock hawk = (n) peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus)
  • stong, stongg = (n) sea-word for a mast
  • stook = (n) several (typically six) sheaves of corn set up together to dry
  • stook (v) to set up sheaves
  • stoor = dust
  • stoor = (n) a breeze
  • stoorie-wirm (n) larva of daddy long legs fly
  • storey = (n) a snail slug
  • stoup and roup, scroup and roup (?) = lock, stock and barrel (if any cannot pay his rent I'll rout him out stoup and roup)
  • stow = as an exclamation, Silence! or Be quiet!
  • stö = (n) the wind
  • striffin = the inner thin semi-clear membrane of an eggshell
  • strik alang = an invitation to visit
  • string = (n) tidal stream (ders therteen strings comes oot o Whalsa soond)
  • stripe = (n) a channel cut in the ground etc allowing foul liquid to drain away, typically a midden
  • strood = (n) guy wire supporting mast on sailing boat
  • stroop = kettle etc sprout
  • stroopy = (n) penis
  • strops = braces (trousers; for the holding up thereof).
  • stuckie = (n) a thick codling
  • stuggie = (n) a relatively narrow slightly raised ridge, or small low hump in the ground
  • stunk = (adj) grunt from effort - Steep road at north end of Gulberwick is referred to as the Stunkin brae.
  • sturdie = (n) livestock ailment of water on the brain
  • styooch = (n) cloud of dust or spray
  • sucken = (n) a district under a bailiff's jurisdiction
  • sukkalegs = (n) stockings without feet
  • sungaets, sunwise = in the direction of the sun, clockwise, correct way to turn a boat
  • suntags = (n) eyes
  • swaar o' the dim = (n) middle of the night
  • swabie = black-back gull (Larus marinus)
  • swallie = swallow
  • swallow = (n) storm-petrel (Procellaria pelagica)
  • swar = swath
  • swarbie = (n) greater black-backed gull (Larus marinus)
  • swash = splash, large amount of drink (alcohol) (I hed a swash o drink dastreen.)
  • swack = well built, muscular (dey wir swack craetirs)
  • swap = a gust of wind. (da flan hat wi a swap)
  • swauge = the slow seeping/draining away of liquid, particularly from that which was overfull. Digesting ones food.
  • Sweddis neep = Swede (As in variety of turnip).
  • swee = burn, singe, to sting, as in water/soap in an open cut, a quite strong steady wind
  • sweerta = a display of contrary or pig-headed natured determination for no obvious reason
  • swick = cheat
  • swicked = cheated
  • swidder = wonder, consider.
  • swiddin = of an awkward, difficult, twisted or contrary nature.
  • swill = a primitive swivel to prevent rope becoming unwound or overwound in use. Most commonly found in animal tethers, comprises a small oblong of usually hardwood, with two or three holes drilled through it of slightly larger diameter than the rope in question. The end of the rope from one direction is passed through a hole and knotted to secure, the end of the rope that continues onward is passed through another hole in the opposite direction to the first, and similiarly knotted to secure.
  • swinkle = lapping water in a container, also too much liquid in stomach, such as beer.
  • swinklin = full of liquid, full of drink, (He cam hame swinklin foo.)
  • swittle = swill water, play in water
  • swittlin-foo = drunk, see http://www.shetlopedia.com/Swittlin_Foo
  • sye = (n) scythe
  • sye = (v) to seive a liquid
  • syer = a sieve, typically a milk sieve


A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Retrieved from "http://sh.shetlanddictionary.com/index.php?title=Shetland_Words:S"