BS: Scottish dialect experts, help.

Subject: BS: Scottish dialect experts, help.
From: Kim C
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 04:47 PM

A Scottish version of "The Cruel Mother" in MacEdward Leach's Ballad Book uses the word "sovilne." I've tried looking it up and can't find what it is. Does anyone know? Thanks. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Scottish dialect experts, help.
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 05:32 PM

Give the line.

Subject: RE: BS: Scottish dialect experts, help.
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 05:43 PM

"O bonnie boys, gin ye were mine,
Ye sudna wear but the silk so fine;

"Your sovilne an' your grass-green silk;
And we drank neen o your farrow cow's milk."

verse 9-10, coll. Greig and pub. in "Last Leaves, ...," p. 21.

Subject: RE: BS: Scottish dialect experts, help.
From: Kim C
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 05:51 PM

Thanks Q - I am not at home right now and don't have the book to hand. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Scottish dialect experts, help.
From: GUEST,Murray on Salt Spring
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 03:01 AM

Leach does omit the word from his glossary, but the redoubtable Scottish National Dictionary has it, referencing only that occurrence in Greig-Keith, defining it as "sable fur", saying it's a corruption of English "sabelline", from Old French.

Subject: RE: BS: Scottish dialect experts, help.
From: Kim C
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 10:38 AM

Thank you!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Scottish dialect experts, help.
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 29 Feb 08 - 12:35 PM

And thanks from me too!
Sabeline is defined in the OED, and is found in an English MS from the 1200s; and later.