Fa – the Green Dragon

A Place for the Odd Musings of an Expat Bristolian


2 Comments

Sword words – en garde!

SWORD WORDS

Broadsword Claymore Foil

Scimitar Sabre Cutlass

Epée Rapier

Note:  Just mucking about on my day off.


Leave a comment

Obscure words explained 78. – gree

GREE

A step or rank earned

Prize given for victory.

from Latin gradus


Leave a comment

Unusual U.K. place names 53. – Kirkcudbright

KIRKCUDBRIGHT, kirlcudbrightshire

Pronounced kirk Coo Bree

Meaning chapel of Cuthbert

He is buried here


1 Comment

Hogmanay

Lang may your lum reek

First-footing New Year greeting.

Wi’ other folks coal.

Note: Tradition in Scotland says that good fortune will come to you by the first visitor after midnight at New Year. The visitor should be a tall, dark and handsome stranger bearing a gift for the family. A small lump of  coal.

Translation: Long may your chimney smoke/smell (i.e.) have a fire for warmth; all the better with other people’s coal.

 

 


4 Comments

Unusual U.K. Place Names 13. – Dull

DULL

There’s a place called Dull

in Scotland It is twinned with

Boring Oregon


2 Comments

obscure words explained 29. – crummock

CRUMMOCK

A staff with crooked head

used walking in the countryside

Good to have at hand

 


2 Comments

A Wee Don and Boris (An old Scottish farewell)

Doris and Donna

Sporting their bleached Wombat hairdo’s

ruling their Kingstons