Shetland sea names; raising the wind.
Track Information
Original Track ID
SA1958.187.4
Original Tape ID
Summary
Shetland sea names; raising the wind.
Peter Gray lists sea words that used to be spoken at the fishing instead of their taboo land equivalents:
A say dee [literally 'I tell you', yes],
A bede ye [no],
fittin [cat],
yonsi [hen],
benny hoose or bonny house [church].
At one time everything on land had another name which would be used off at sea to avoid bad luck. If a land word was used by mistake it could make the seaman very angry. Whistling was also forbidden as it could raise a gale. In calm weather, sticking a knife in the mast would produce wind.
Recording Location
County - Shetland
Parish - Walls and Sandness
Island - Foula
Item Location
County - Shetland
Parish - Walls and Sandness
Island - Foula
Language
English, Scots
Genre
Collection
Source Type
Reel to reel
Audio Quality
Good