Discussion:
Scottish expression ?
(too old to reply)
Josiah Jenkins
2009-12-13 13:35:30 UTC
Permalink
Who's familiar with the phrase 'skittery Winter' ?

Is it localised or general throughout Scotland ?

And no, it's not an attack of diarrhea which lasts
from Autumn to Spring !
--
http://www.ian-stewart.eu
James Hogg
2009-12-13 13:56:42 UTC
Permalink
Post by Josiah Jenkins
Who's familiar with the phrase 'skittery Winter' ?
Is it localised or general throughout Scotland ?
And no, it's not an attack of diarrhea which lasts from Autumn to
Spring !
I see different definitions online:

"A skittery winter; the reception given to Christmas Eve's last arrival"

"Skittery Winter is an old tradition, the last person up on the last day
of the year is derided and poked fun at and called skittery winter...its
supposed to condemn them to a life of sloth for the next 365 days"

Actually, the only difference is whether it's Christmas or Hogmanay.

And the totally irrelevant only quotation from 1658 from the Dictionary
of the Old Scots Tongue:

"King James loved ... to talk of ... a thin skittery turd as round as
bannocks 2 or three dayes old"
--
James
Nebulous
2009-12-13 19:13:02 UTC
Permalink
On Sun, 13 Dec 2009 13:35:30 +0000, Josiah Jenkins
Post by Josiah Jenkins
Who's familiar with the phrase 'skittery Winter' ?
Is it localised or general throughout Scotland ?
And no, it's not an attack of diarrhea which lasts
from Autumn to Spring !
I don't know how widespread it is. It certainly isn't an
Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire/Buchan one anyway.

Neb
HardySpicer
2009-12-13 20:06:38 UTC
Permalink
On Dec 14, 2:35 am, Josiah Jenkins <josiah-
Post by Josiah Jenkins
Who's familiar with the phrase 'skittery Winter' ?
Is it localised or general throughout Scotland ?
And no, it's not an attack of diarrhea which lasts
from Autumn to Spring !
--http://www.ian-stewart.eu
The Skitters is a word for watery shit. I have vagualy heard it.

Hardy
Ejaycee
2009-12-14 02:08:14 UTC
Permalink
"HardySpicer" <***@gmail.com> wrote in message news:e8715acb-f1c1-49b9-ac1c-***@o9g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
On Dec 14, 2:35 am, Josiah Jenkins <josiah-
Post by Josiah Jenkins
Who's familiar with the phrase 'skittery Winter' ?
Is it localised or general throughout Scotland ?
And no, it's not an attack of diarrhea which lasts
from Autumn to Spring !
--http://www.ian-stewart.eu
The Skitters is a word for watery shit. I have vagualy heard it.

AFAIR Skittery means 'all over the place' or similar
Its an expression that was widely used in Galloway when I was a child
and I still use it now in lots of ways.
Not just for the skitters [as above] but someone or the weather can be
skittery
or skitter about, although in the latter that would more like wasting time.
My mum [from Edinburgh so it was used there] used to tell us to stop
skittering about when we were doing chores we didn't like, or if we wouldn't
sit still.

Ejay
S Viemeister
2009-12-14 02:30:18 UTC
Permalink
Post by Ejaycee
AFAIR Skittery means 'all over the place' or similar
Its an expression that was widely used in Galloway when I was a child
and I still use it now in lots of ways.
Not just for the skitters [as above] but someone or the weather can be
skittery
or skitter about, although in the latter that would more like wasting time.
My mum [from Edinburgh so it was used there] used to tell us to stop
skittering about when we were doing chores we didn't like, or if we wouldn't
sit still.
"Skittering about" is a phrase I've heard often, but "skittery winter"
is new to me.
Josiah Jenkins
2009-12-14 10:14:49 UTC
Permalink
On Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:08:14 +1100, "Ejaycee"
Post by Ejaycee
On Dec 14, 2:35 am, Josiah Jenkins <josiah-
Post by Josiah Jenkins
Who's familiar with the phrase 'skittery Winter' ?
Is it localised or general throughout Scotland ?
And no, it's not an attack of diarrhea which lasts
from Autumn to Spring !
The Skitters is a word for watery shit.
Ejay !!!
I tried to phrase it politely and you come back with that line ?
Dearie, dearie me !
--
http://www.ian-stewart.eu
Ejaycee
2009-12-14 10:59:51 UTC
Permalink
Post by Josiah Jenkins
On Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:08:14 +1100, "Ejaycee"
Post by Ejaycee
On Dec 14, 2:35 am, Josiah Jenkins <josiah-
Post by Josiah Jenkins
Who's familiar with the phrase 'skittery Winter' ?
Is it localised or general throughout Scotland ?
And no, it's not an attack of diarrhea which lasts
from Autumn to Spring !
The Skitters is a word for watery shit.
Ejay !!!
I tried to phrase it politely and you come back with that line ?
Dearie, dearie me !
--
HEY!! I didn't use thatdefinition read the post properly
It was that Hardy that did.......
Sniff...

Ejay
Post by Josiah Jenkins
http://www.ian-stewart.eu
Josiah Jenkins
2009-12-14 19:59:49 UTC
Permalink
On Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:59:51 +1100, "Ejaycee"
Post by Josiah Jenkins
Post by HardySpicer
Post by Josiah Jenkins
And no, it's not an attack of diarrhea which lasts
from Autumn to Spring !
The Skitters is a word for watery shit.
Ejay !!!
I tried to phrase it politely and you come back with that line ?
Dearie, dearie me !
--
HEY!! I didn't use that definition read the post properly
Apologies EJ but here's *exactly* what showed up here . . .
The Skitters is a word for watery shit. I have vagualy heard it.

AFAIR Skittery means 'all over the place' or similar
Its an expression that was widely used in Galloway when I was
a child and I still use it now in lots of ways.
No attributions on any of the lines !

Looks as though you replied below Heid's one-liner ?
Sniff...
I wouldn't if there really are 'skitters' around !
--
http://www.ian-stewart.eu
Cory Bhreckan
2009-12-14 20:23:08 UTC
Permalink
Post by Josiah Jenkins
On Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:59:51 +1100, "Ejaycee"
Post by Josiah Jenkins
Post by HardySpicer
Post by Josiah Jenkins
And no, it's not an attack of diarrhea which lasts
from Autumn to Spring !
The Skitters is a word for watery shit.
Ejay !!!
I tried to phrase it politely and you come back with that line ?
Dearie, dearie me !
--
HEY!! I didn't use that definition read the post properly
Apologies EJ but here's *exactly* what showed up here . . .
The Skitters is a word for watery shit. I have vagualy heard it.
AFAIR Skittery means 'all over the place' or similar
Its an expression that was widely used in Galloway when I was
a child and I still use it now in lots of ways.
No attributions on any of the lines !
Looks as though you replied below Heid's one-liner ?
Sniff...
I wouldn't if there really are 'skitters' around !
If shirt is a Nordic form of shirt and skipper is a Nordic form of
shipper then skitter is... and a theatrical skit is....
--
"For the stronger we our houses do build,
The less chance we have of being killed." - William Topaz McGonagall
Allan
2009-12-14 22:57:43 UTC
Permalink
Post by Josiah Jenkins
On Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:59:51 +1100, "Ejaycee"
Post by Josiah Jenkins
Post by HardySpicer
Post by Josiah Jenkins
And no, it's not an attack of diarrhea which lasts
from Autumn to Spring !
The Skitters is a word for watery shit.
Ejay !!!
I tried to phrase it politely and you come back with that line ?
Dearie, dearie me !
--
HEY!! I didn't use that definition read the post properly
Apologies EJ but here's *exactly* what showed up here . . .
The Skitters is a word for watery shit. I have vagualy heard it.
AFAIR Skittery means 'all over the place' or similar
Its an expression that was widely used in Galloway when I was
a child and I still use it now in lots of ways.
Quite so. It is related to he word 'skite' which means to slip, or to rush
about or fly off in a tangent etc. We would often use it perhaps for
someone who appeared to be rushing about but wasn't actually doing or
achieving very much. "Will ye get on wi it and stop skittering aboot"

The Chambers Scots dictionary printed in 1911 has the spelling for this word
as "skiter" whilst the horrible watery poo is "skitter" - though we all know
Scots spelling is less than rigid and I would personally spell both words as
"skitter"

Allan
Ejaycee
2009-12-15 06:56:02 UTC
Permalink
Post by Josiah Jenkins
On Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:59:51 +1100, "Ejaycee"
Post by Josiah Jenkins
Post by HardySpicer
Post by Josiah Jenkins
And no, it's not an attack of diarrhea which lasts
from Autumn to Spring !
The Skitters is a word for watery shit.
Ejay !!!
I tried to phrase it politely and you come back with that line ?
Dearie, dearie me !
--
HEY!! I didn't use that definition read the post properly
Apologies EJ but here's *exactly* what showed up here . . .
The Skitters is a word for watery shit. I have vagualy heard it.
AFAIR Skittery means 'all over the place' or similar
Its an expression that was widely used in Galloway when I was
a child and I still use it now in lots of ways.
No attributions on any of the lines !
Looks as though you replied below Heid's one-liner ?
Sorry Josiah - I snipped his name out by mistake
Post by Josiah Jenkins
Sniff...
I wouldn't if there really are 'skitters' around !
I am woman here me roar
I've changed nappies by the score


Ejay
Allan
2009-12-15 07:32:21 UTC
Permalink
Post by Ejaycee
I am woman here me roar
I've changed nappies by the score
I am man hear me shout
I eat all the cakes when the wife is out

Allan
Ejaycee
2009-12-15 08:10:33 UTC
Permalink
Post by Allan
Post by Ejaycee
I am woman here me roar
I've changed nappies by the score
I am man hear me shout
I eat all the cakes when the wife is out
Allan
Ummm.....what the dickens does that have to do with the skitters Alan

You are not decrying your wifes cakes are you??

Ejay
Allan
2009-12-16 07:06:44 UTC
Permalink
Post by Ejaycee
Post by Allan
message I am woman here me roar
I've changed nappies by the score
I am man hear me shout
I eat all the cakes when the wife is out
Allan
Ummm.....what the dickens does that have to do with the skitters Alan
You are not decrying your wifes cakes are you??
I was just joining in on the wee bit poetry at the foot of the posts :-)

Allan
The Highlander
2009-12-14 18:01:37 UTC
Permalink
Post by HardySpicer
On Dec 14, 2:35 am, Josiah Jenkins <josiah-
Post by Josiah Jenkins
Who's familiar with the phrase 'skittery Winter' ?
Is it localised or general throughout Scotland ?
And no, it's not an attack of diarrhea which lasts
from Autumn to Spring !
--http://www.ian-stewart.eu
The Skitters is a word for watery shit. I have vagualy heard it.
Hardy
So you should have - God knows you post enough of it.
Ejaycee
2009-12-15 08:11:13 UTC
Permalink
Post by Ejaycee
On Dec 14, 2:35 am, Josiah Jenkins <josiah-
Post by Josiah Jenkins
Who's familiar with the phrase 'skittery Winter' ?
Is it localised or general throughout Scotland ?
And no, it's not an attack of diarrhea which lasts
from Autumn to Spring !
--http://www.ian-stewart.eu
The Skitters is a word for watery shit. I have vagualy heard it.
Hardy
So you should have - God knows you post enough of it.



Schnortle .......
cough cough!

Ejay
Fifeshire Floozie
2009-12-14 06:31:52 UTC
Permalink
Post by Josiah Jenkins
Who's familiar with the phrase 'skittery Winter' ?
Is it localised or general throughout Scotland ?
And no, it's not an attack of diarrhea which lasts
from Autumn to Spring !
Interesting phrase Ian. It's a new one on me. I've found the meaning
in my Concise Scots Dictionary, but I'll let you tell them :)
Josiah Jenkins
2009-12-14 10:14:34 UTC
Permalink
On Mon, 14 Dec 2009 01:31:52 -0500, "Fifeshire Floozie"
Post by Fifeshire Floozie
Post by Josiah Jenkins
Who's familiar with the phrase 'skittery Winter' ?
Is it localised or general throughout Scotland ?
And no, it's not an attack of diarrhea which lasts
from Autumn to Spring !
Interesting phrase Ian. It's a new one on me. I've found the meaning
in my Concise Scots Dictionary, but I'll let you tell them :)
James came back with the meaning I was thinking of :
"Skittery Winter is an old tradition, the last person up
on the last day of the year is derided and poked fun at
and called skittery winter...its supposed to condemn
them to a life of sloth for the next 365 days"

When I was an apprentice mechanic, in the late 50s,
there were about ten of us in the workshop. On the
last working day of the year (which *could* be the
31st Dec if it didn't fall on a Sunday), the last
person to arrive for work (even if 'on time) was
deemed to be 'Skittery Winter'.

I recall one year someone was actually 5-10 minutes
late and was greeted with a cacaphony of noise on their
arrival and one of the guys getting a 'core plug' (which
was made of fairly soft metal) and marking 'Skittery
Winter' on it with 'teeps' (for stamping characters or
digits onto metal), drilling a hole in it for a piece of
string and it was presented at the morning tea break.
--
http://www.ian-stewart.eu
m***@gmail.com
2013-01-06 17:07:34 UTC
Permalink
Post by Josiah Jenkins
Who's familiar with the phrase 'skittery Winter' ?
Is it localised or general throughout Scotland ?
And no, it's not an attack of diarrhea which lasts
from Autumn to Spring !
--
http://www.ian-stewart.eu
We used to do skittery winter every year in our house hold. As indicated by other emails the last person up on New year's day was ignominiously jeered at for being the family sloth. Usually it was the same person every year, not that he/she lost much sleep over the title.
w***@gmail.com
2019-06-29 08:20:10 UTC
Permalink
Skittery winter

Last person in at work on last working day of the year - Hogmanay - that's how it was in the 1960s in the shipyards.
The Phantom Piper
2019-06-30 02:29:58 UTC
Permalink
On Saturday, June 29, 2019 at 1:20:11 AM UTC-7, ***@gmail.com wrote:

You have just replied to a 10 YEAR OLD POST,
whose author, sadly, passed away *years* ago.
Congratulations, Necro-King!


Impressed,

The Phantom Piper
j***@gmail.com
2020-04-02 12:00:18 UTC
Permalink
Remember it well when I worked at Caterpillar in Uddingston in 60's. American bosses got a shock when all the metal desks and bins were rattled like mad following the late comer all the way from entrance and through each open plan department until they reached their desk or drawing board. It was bedlam!
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