een

Doric Scots, South Northern Scots, and Shetland form of ane (“one”)


thou

head

thou (objective case thee, reflexive thysel, possessive determiner thy)

thee (objective)
thysel (reflexive)
thy (determiner possessive)
du (alternative)
thoo (alternative)

From Middle English þou, from Old English þū, from Proto-Germanic *þū, from Proto-Indo-European *túh₂ (“you”).

(archaic outside Orkney and Shetland) thou, you (2nd person singular subject pronoun, informal)


thee

thee (subjective case thou, reflexive thysel, possessive determiner thy)

case thou (subjective)
thysel (reflexive)
thy (determiner possessive)
dee (alternative)

From Middle English þe, from Old English þē (“thee”, originally dative, but later also accusative), from Proto-Germanic *þiz (“thee”), from Proto-Indo-European *te (“second-person singular pronoun”).

inh

(archaic outside Orkney and Shetland) thee, you (2nd person singular object pronoun, informal)

(Orkney, Shetland) thou, you (2nd person singular subject pronoun, informal)


air

airs (plural)
aire (alternative)
aer (alternative)

From Icelandic ar (“mote, speck of dust”).

(Northern Isles, Caithness, Banff) A small quantity, particle, morsel; pinch (of snuff); whiff; taste


air

airs (plural)
aer (alternative)
aire (alternative)
ayre (alternative)
er (alternative)


ant

head

ant (third-person singular simple present ants, present participle antin, simple past antit, past participle antit)

ants (present singular third-person)
antin (participle present)
antit (past)
antit (participle past)


arm

(Shetland) the tail end of something, especially of fishing line


ag

The wash of waves on the sea-shore as by a steady wind from the sea.


ag

ag (third-person singular simple present ags, present participle agin, simple past aged, past participle aged)

ags (present singular third-person)
agin (participle present)
aged (past)
aged (participle past)


thy

From þi, apocopated variant of Middle English þin, from Old English þīn, from Proto-West Germanic *þīn, from Proto-Germanic *þīnaz, from Proto-Indo-European *téynos (“thy; thine”).

inh

(archaic outside Orkney and Shetland) thy, your (possessive form of thou)


du

head

du (objective case dee, vocative dee, possessive determiner dines)

dee (objective)
dee (vocative)
dines (determiner possessive)


aber

From Old Norse apr (“sharp, hard, bad”).


aber

to poke a fire in order to brighten it (often with up)


neen

(Northern Scots and Shetland) alternative form of nane


admire

admire (third-person singular simple present admires, present participle admirin, simple past admired, past participle admired)

admires (present singular third-person)
admirin (participle present)
admired (past)
admired (participle past)


haaf

From Old Norse haf (“the sea”). Cognate with Danish hav, Old English hæf (Etymology 2).

haaff (alternative)
haf (alternative)
haff (alternative)

(archaic, Northern Isles) the deep sea beyond coastal waters

(fishing, Shetland) the deep-sea fishing carried out 30-40 miles offshore in open boats

(fishing, Northern Isles) deep-sea fishing, especially for cod, ling, tusk, etc.


quean

queans (plural)
quine (alternative Doric)

From Middle English quene, from Old English cwene, from Proto-West Germanic *kwenā, from Proto-Germanic *kwenǭ (“woman”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʷḗn (“woman”).

(Shetland) A ram incapable of procreation, a hermaphrodite sheep.


skerry

Borrowed from Old Norse sker, from Proto-Germanic *skarją, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to cut”).

Tae the icy flowes o the Shetlan voes he sailed tae Scalloway, / There his sweethairt won, far a Viking sun shines ower the skerries grey.

2004, Sheena Blackhall, The Humpty Dumpty Man:


aes

aeses (plural)
es (alternative)
aze (alternative)

Borrowed from Old Norse eisa (“glowing embers”).


maalin

(Shetland) a hawk, especially the merlin, sparrow hawk or kestrel


aga

agas (plural)
aggek (alternative)
aagig (alternative)

(Shetland) A variety of eight-armed cuttlefish


nain

nain (comparative mair nain, superlative maist nain)

mair nain (comparative)
maist nain (superlative)

From the prothetic n- + ain, from the wrong division of mine ain as my nain.

He was my nain bairn.


ent

ent (third-person singular simple present ents, present participle entin, simple past ented, past participle ented)

ents (present singular third-person)
entin (participle present)
ented (past)
ented (participle past)


peerie

peerie (comparative peerier, superlative peeriest)

peerier (comparative)
peeriest (superlative)
peedie (alternative)


bonxie

Stercorarius skua
Stercorarius skua#Translingual

(chiefly Shetland) the great skua, Stercorarius skua


etri

etri (comparative mair etri, superlative maist etri)

mair etri (comparative)
maist etri (superlative)


aisy

aisy (comparative mair aisy, superlative maist aisy)

mair aisy (comparative)
maist aisy (superlative)


agg

agg (third-person singular simple present aggs, present participle aggin, simple past agged, past participle agged)

aggs (present singular third-person)
aggin (participle present)
agged (past)
agged (participle past)
ag (alternative)


aften

Derived from Old Norse aptann (“evening”).


aet

Derived from Old Norse etja (“to incite”).

(Shetland) agitation, excitement, eagerness


aggle

aggles (plural)
aggl (alternative Shetland)
agl (alternative Shetland)

Compare Norwegian alka (“to dirty, defile”).

Eftir da rain dastreen da rigs is in wan aggle o dirt.

After the yesterday evening rain, the rigs is in a mess of dirt.

(Northern Isles) mess; confused or dirty state.


aggle

aggle (third-person singular simple present aggles, present participle agglin, simple past aggled, past participle aggled)

aggles (present singular third-person)
agglin (participle present)
aggled (past)
aggled (participle past)
aggl (alternative Shetland)
agl (alternative Shetland)

I wiss du widna aggle dee haands i yun fish brucks.

I wish you would not dirty the hands in those fish left-overs.


agl

agl (third-person singular simple present agls, present participle aglin, simple past agled, past participle agled)

agls (present singular third-person)
aglin (participle present)
agled (past)
agled (participle past)


aarm

(Shetland) end, especially of a fishing-line.


chirk

chirks (plural)
chairk (alternative)
jirg (alternative)

From Middle English cherkin, from Old English ċearcian, ċiercian, variant forms of Old English cracian, from Proto-West Germanic *krakōn, from Proto-Germanic *krakōną (“to crack; crackle; shriek”).
Cognate with English chirk. Doublet of chork, crak, crake, and jarg. The noun is derived from the verb.

der

(geology, North Northern Scots, Northern Isles) wet gravelly subsoil


chalder

chalders (plural)
chaldrick (alternative)
chaldro (alternative)

From Norn chaldro, from Old Norse tjaldr. Cognate to Icelandic tjaldur m and Faroese tjaldur n.

Haematopus ostralegus
Haematopus ostralegus#Translingual

(Northern Isles) oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)


prettikin

From Old Norse prettr (“a trick”), from Proto-Germanic *prattuz (“boastful speech; trickery, deceit”). More at prat.


froad

froads (plural)
froed (alternative)
frood (alternative)

He rubbid da froad o' da mylk aff o' his matash.

1922, James Inskster, Mansie's Röd, page 97:


froad

head

froad (third-person singular simple present froads, present participle froadin, simple past froadt, past participle froadt)

froads (present singular third-person)
froadin (participle present)
froadt (past)
froadt (participle past)
froed (alternative)
frood (alternative)

Whin we cam in Sibbie wis jüist set da kit wi' da kye's mylk apo da flüer. Hit wis warm an' froadin' apo' da tap.


froading

froading (comparative mair froading, superlative maist froading)

mair froading (comparative)
maist froading (superlative)

Carrying da tinnie about twappirt of froadin' mylk.

(dialectal, Northern Isles) Foaming; frothing.


gyurd

gyurds (plural)
gjord (alternative)
gørd (alternative)

Probably from Old Norse gjørð, gørð (“deed; act; making; workmanship; arbitration”), from Old Norse gøra (“to make; perform render”).

der

(Shetland, archaic) that which one receives: a gift or reward


annt

head

annt (third-person singular simple present annts, present participle anntin, simple past anntit, past participle anntit)

annts (present singular third-person)
anntin (participle present)
anntit (past)
anntit (participle past)


ackaduir

ackaduir (third-person singular simple present ackaduirs, present participle ackaduirin, simple past ackaduirt, past participle ackaduirt)

ackaduirs (present singular third-person)
ackaduirin (participle present)
ackaduirt (past)
ackaduirt (participle past)

(Shetland) to persevere, endure, endeavour


ackamy

ackamy (comparative mair ackamy, superlative maist ackamy)

mair ackamy (comparative)
maist ackamy (superlative)


ackamy

(Northern Isles) A weak person or animal; a weakling.


buinhoose

abuin (“above, higher up, superior”) + hoose (“house”)

compound

(Shetland fishermen, derogatory) A church.


affroad

head

affroad (third-person singular simple present affroads, present participle affroadin, simple past affroadit, past participle affroadit)

affroads (present singular third-person)
affroadin (participle present)
affroadit (past)
affroadit (participle past)

(Shetland) to dissuade, head off, discourage


hauf-oot-afore

(Shetland) A earmark for sheep in which a part of the front side of the ear is cut out.


hauf-oot-ahint

(Shetland) A earmark for sheep in which a part of the back side of the ear is cut out.


sutchkin

sutchkins (plural)
søskin (alternative)
sötskin (alternative)
sutshkin (alternative)

From Old Norse systkin (“siblings”). Compare Danish søskende, Faroese, Icelandic systkin, Norwegian Bokmål søsken and Swedish syskon.

He wis just laek his sutchkins.

1952, John J. Hunter, Taen wi da Trow, page 211:

(Shetland) cousins, near relatives in general


kwilk

kwilk (third-person singular simple present kwilks, present participle kwilkin, simple past kwilkt, past participle kwilkt)

kwilks (present singular third-person)
kwilkin (participle present)
kwilkt (past)
kwilkt (participle past)


onstaandin

onstaandin (comparative mair onstaandin, superlative maist onstaandin)

mair onstaandin (comparative)
maist onstaandin (superlative)


kyucker

kyucker (third-person singular simple present kyuckers, present participle kyuckerin, simple past kyuckert, past participle kyuckert)

kyuckers (present singular third-person)
kyuckerin (participle present)
kyuckert (past)
kyuckert (participle past)


kyemp

kyemp (third-person singular simple present kyemps, present participle kyempin, simple past kyempt, past participle kyempt)

kyemps (present singular third-person)
kyempin (participle present)
kyempt (past)
kyempt (participle past)


etterscab

Dat boy o' Teenie's is a proper etterscab.

That boy of Teenie's is a real troublemaker.

(Shetland) an ill-natured or troublesome person


foregeng

Yun dremm I hed dastreen is a foregeng o something queer.


freksit

freksit (comparative mair freksit, superlative maist freksit)

mair freksit (comparative)
maist freksit (superlative)


firyat

firyat (third-person singular simple present firyats, present participle firyatin, simple past firyatt, past participle firyatt)

firyats (present singular third-person)
firyatin (participle present)
firyatt (past)
firyatt (participle past)


kirsen

I wiss du wid wap yon joopie awa: hit's no kirsen to be seen.

(Shetland) proper, decent; fit to eat or wear.


obleegement

(Shetland, Ulster) a favour, an act of kindness


scooder

scooder (third-person singular simple present scooders, present participle scooderin, simple past scoodert, past participle scoodert)

scooders (present singular third-person)
scooderin (participle present)
scoodert (past)
scoodert (participle past)


thysel

From Middle English thy-selfe, thiself, thi-zelf, from Old English þīnes selfes, equivalent to thy + sel.

(archaic outside Orkney and Shetland) thyself, yourself (reflexive form of thou)


mallivoag

mallivoag (third-person singular simple present mallivoags, present participle mallivoagin, simple past mallivoagt, past participle mallivoagt)

mallivoags (present singular third-person)
mallivoagin (participle present)
mallivoagt (past)
mallivoagt (participle past)


mooratoog

From Old Norse maurr (“ant”) + Old Norse þúfa (“mound”).


maegerdom

(Shetland) state of weakness, combined with depression.


mankit

mankit (comparative mair mankit, superlative maist mankit)

mair mankit (comparative)
maist mankit (superlative)

From Middle English mankid, past participle of manken (“to mutilate”), from Medieval Latin mancāre; equivalent to mank (“to mutilate”) + -it.


aboot-gaain

aboot + gaain; Calque of Old Norse umganga (“to go round”).

clq

(Northern Isles) going about, whirling, veering, wandering


aboot-kast

Derived from Old Norse umkast, turning round, change; the prefix (as in the preceding word) has been translated aboot, while kast remained.


Abersay

(obsolete) Shetland form of aw-bay-say (“alphabet”)


nyurl

head

nyurl (third-person singular simple present nyurls, present participle nyurlin, simple past nyurlt, past participle nyurlt)

nyurls (present singular third-person)
nyurlin (participle present)
nyurlt (past)
nyurlt (participle past)


hellisom

hellisom (comparative mair hellisom, superlative maist hellisom)

mair hellisom (comparative)
maist hellisom (superlative)

(Shetland) winsome, amiable; having agreeable manners.


kyufset

kyufset (comparative mair kyufset, superlative maist kyufset)

mair kyufset (comparative)
maist kyufset (superlative)


ackadür

akkerdüir (alternative)
ackadur (alternative)


acre-a-bung

/ˈɑkərəˈbʌŋ/

acre + a (“on”) + bung (“used in compds. only”)

compound

(Northern Isles) A species of grass, fog grass.


adber

adbers (plural)
adbert (alternative)
atvird (alternative)


adnasjur

From Old Norse annarr (“second”) + Old Norse sjór (“sea”).

af

(Shetland) A large wave, or waves, coming after a succession of lesser ones


adümes

Derived from Old Norse dmi (“proof, reason, example for imitation”).


ae-fald

head

ae-fald (comparative mair ae-fald, superlative maist ae-fald)

mair ae-fald (comparative)
maist ae-fald (superlative)


aerrow

From Middle English arow, from Old English ārwe, earh, from Proto-West Germanic *arhu.


aevaliss

aevaliss (comparative mair aevaliss, superlative maist aevaliss)

mair aevaliss (comparative)
maist aevaliss (superlative)
aivalous (alternative)
evalos (alternative)

Derived from Old Norse efalauss. The termination -lauss (= -less) has lost its negative force, and given way to -ous, and the meaning of the word has been exactly reversed.


evalos

evalos (comparative mair evalos, superlative maist evalos)

mair evalos (comparative)
maist evalos (superlative)


aivalous

aivalous (comparative mair aivalous, superlative maist aivalous)

mair aivalous (comparative)
maist aivalous (superlative)


affcastins

Possibly derived from Middle English ofcastyng; equivalent to aff- + castins.


aftak

(Shetland) The dia-continuance of a spell of bad weather.


affwinnin

affwinnins (plural)
afwinnin (alternative)
afwinnen (alternative)

(Shetland) A festivity in Shetland, on finishing the field-work in spring or the harvest-work.


afflude

afflude (third-person singular simple present affludes, present participle affludin, simple past affluded, past participle affluded)

affludes (present singular third-person)
affludin (participle present)
affluded (past)
affluded (participle past)

aff- + lude, derived from Old Norse ljútr.

(Shetland) To injure the looks or appearance of anything.


aggisom

aggisom (comparative mair aggisom, superlative maist aggisom)

mair aggisom (comparative)
maist aggisom (superlative)
agisom (alternative)

Perhaps derived from Old Norse agasamr. See also awsome.


agisom

agisom (comparative mair agisom, superlative maist agisom)

mair agisom (comparative)
maist agisom (superlative)


aggl

aggl (third-person singular simple present aggls, present participle agglin, simple past aggled, past participle aggled)

aggls (present singular third-person)
agglin (participle present)
aggled (past)
aggled (participle past)


aittrie

aittrie (comparative mair aittrie, superlative maist aittrie)

mair aittrie (comparative)
maist aittrie (superlative)
aitrie (alternative Shetland)
etri (alternative Shetland)

Derived from Old Norse eitr (“poison”). Compare attery and ettery.

(Shetland) cold, bleak, bitter, grim (of weather)


aittrie

aitrie (alternative Shetland)
etri (alternative Shetland)


aitrie

aitrie (comparative mair aitrie, superlative maist aitrie)

mair aitrie (comparative)
maist aitrie (superlative)


skudler

master of ceremonies
master of ceremonies

(Shetland, historical) The manager of a feast; the master of ceremonies.

(Shetland, historical) The leader of a band of mummers.


cockaloorie

cockaloories (plural)
cockieloorie (alternative)
kokkeluri (alternative)
kokkaloorie (alternative)
cockalowrie (alternative Orkney)

→ English: (Shetland) kokkaloorie

Lang, bonnie, black hair, sheenin’ just laek a corbie’s wing. Twa bonnie red cheeks, as pure as da under side ’o a cockieloorie.

1892, George Stewart, “Mansie Mudjick’s Courtships”, in Shetland Fireside Tales, 2nd edition, page 245:

Long, beautiful, black hair that shines like a raven’s wings. Also lovely red cheeks, as pure as the underside of a daisy.

An da mey-flooer cleds da burn-broo
An growes ita da clift.
Da kokkilurie covers aa
Laek da white cloods ower da lift.

1975, T. A. Robertson, “Hjalta”, in The Collected Poems of Vagaland:

And the May-flower is clothed in dew / And grows in the crevices. / The daisy covers the whole / Like the white clouds of the heavens.

Bellis perennis
Bellis perennis#Translingual

(Shetland) common daisy (Bellis perennis)