Scots Wha Ken: Ptlarchie? Lammrachie?

Subject: Scots Wha Ken: Ptlarchie? Lammrachie?
From: Sarah2
Date: 22 Apr 01 - 02:37 PM

I find these different words in different versions of "The Battle of Harlaw," and I don't know what either of them means. I've done a forum search and looked through Jon of Brisbane's excellent Glossary, but found no answer. The line is the same one:

"And siccan a ptlarchie/lammrachie, the like ye nivver saw..."

followed by

"As wis amangst the Hieland men fan they saw McDonald fa'."

Could someone define either or both of these words for me?

Thanks, confusedly,

Sarah

Subject: RE: Scots Wha Ken: Ptlarchie? Lammrachie?
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 22 Apr 01 - 03:29 PM

Part of the problem is the fact that spelling was not standardised until quite recently, and never really has been in Scots.  pitleurachie is "hubbub, confusion" (Alexander Warrack, Scots Dialect Dictionary, 2000); according to the Rev. Walter Gregor (cited in Child's English and Scottish Popular Ballads) it derives, along with lierachie (of which I assume your lammrachie is a variant) from leerach, "the bottom of a dung pit after the dung has been removed, but left in a filthy state.  The word is used to signify anything in a disordered state."

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Scots Wha Ken: Ptlarchie? Lammrachie?
From: Sarah2
Date: 22 Apr 01 - 04:34 PM

Thanks, Malcolm. Helpful to know what I'm singing, eh? You are ever a great source. One colorful word genisis, that!

Sarah

Subject: RE: Scots Wha Ken: Ptlarchie? Lammrachie?
From: Sarah2
Date: 22 Apr 01 - 04:35 PM

Thanks, Malcolm. Helpful to know what I'm singing, eh? You are ever a great source. One colorful word genesis, that!

Sarah

Subject: RE: Scots Wha Ken: Ptlarchie? Lammrachie?
From: Sarah2
Date: 22 Apr 01 - 04:36 PM

Sometimes I don't like my computer very much -- it told me it wasn't sent!

Sarah