Origins: Donald McGillavry - translation?

Subject: Origins: Donald McGillavry - translation?
From: Darren Raleigh
Date: 07 Dec 12 - 03:00 PM

If I were to perform Donald McGillavry and someone were to ask me what it means, what would I tell them? What's a weibauk? A gouk? If one were to find that one were mumpit wi mirds and mockery is there a treatment?

Thanks!
~D.

Subject: RE: Origins: Donald McGillavry - translation?
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 07 Dec 12 - 03:13 PM

The song has glosses for your terms here: Donald MacGillavry.

There is a Scots glossary available in the drop-down at the top of the page, but it doesn't seem to have the needed senses for your words.

Mick

Subject: RE: Origins: Donald McGillavry - translation?
From: maeve
Date: 07 Dec 12 - 03:18 PM

Several Mudcat threads await your perusal and edification:

Origins: Donald Macgillavry

Subject: Lyr Add: DONALD MACGILLAVRY (from Ewan MacColl)

Other thread titles:
Who was Donald Mc Gillavry
Who was the Jacobite Donald MacGillavry?
Lyr Req: Donald MacGillavry
Donald MacGillavry

Subject: RE: Origins: Donald McGillavry - translation?
From: Allan Conn
Date: 08 Dec 12 - 04:59 AM

Some of it is quite archaic even for Scots. Spelling differ but the Concise Scots Dictionary uses the spelling "weigh bauk" and it is basically "scales". So the end of the first verse is saying come like a set of scales and be balanced.In the second verse it says come like a weaver and an "elwand" is a measuring stick.

In parts of Scotland if someone is in the huff or sulking then they are told to stop mumping about. According to the CSD the word "mird" is to meddle or to have dealings or associations with. So the line "Donald was mumpit wi mirds and mockery" basically means something like "Donald was upset with events which were mocking him"