"Scotch": a term of abuse?

Personally, I adore Scots Eggs with lashings of Coleman's English Mustard, and a wee pint to wash it doon O'course.´


Fritz Von Takkinthehighrood

Butterscots are nice too by the way !

Great minds are blocked like Tom´, I suprisingly enough have one too, so it's Hop Scots for uis, obvious innit Tom, off for a Dair of the Hog so I am.

Fritz Von Checkout "Just a Kiss" it's wery therapeutic

No of course not. Don't be silly!

Mole Man

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Originally posted by mike lacey:
Look!

A thread about the issue!

Regards

Mike

Spending money I don't have on things I don't need.

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Scotch Tape

What is the difference between "Scotch" and "Scottish"?
(Fine shades of meaning)

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Scots' preferred adjective for Scotland and for themselves is "Scots". "Scottish" is also acceptable. But "Scotch" (although used by Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott, and still used by some Americans of Scots descent) is now considered offensive by many Scots. Certain Scots hold that only three things can be "Scotch": "Scotch whisky", "Scotch egg", and "Scotch mist". They are not interested in considering additions to this list, although many other terms containing "Scotch" can be found in dictionaries.

(extract from "Usage Disputes" by Mark Israel)

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Dear Word Detective: Can you tell me the origin of "scotch" as a verb? I presume that it has something to do with Scotland, but how did "scotch" come to mean "quash" or "discredit"? -- D. B., via the internet.

At first glance, it seems logical that "scotch," meaning to abruptly deflate or disprove a rumor or theory, would have its origins in Scotland. The Scots are known as frugal, no-nonsense folk who do not suffer fools or foolishness gladly. It's easy to imagine that a dour Scotsman's contempt for wild rumors and silly theories would become legend.

But "scotch" in this usage has nothing to do with Scotland, Scots or the supposed Scottish national temperament. "Scot" in reference to the people of Scotland comes from the late Latin word "Scottus," possibly an adaptation of a name given to the Gaelic inhabitants of Scotland by the ancient Britons or Gauls.

The "scotch" in "scotch a rumor," however, comes from the Old French word "escocher," meaning "to cut." In the case of your example, it means to "cut out" or destroy a rumor, just as a sudden thunderstorm can "scotch" a family's plans for a weekend at the beach.. It is, in fact, the same non-Scottish "scotch" as found in the name of the children's game "hopscotch," referring to the playing lines cut into or drawn on the ground.

While we're at it, butterscotch candy doesn't come from you-know-where. It's called that because it is made with butter and is usually cut ("scotched") into small pieces. So we see that all that's "scotch" is not Scottish. However, as a consolation to lovers of Scotland, we doubt that all these echoes of an obsolete French verb would ever have lasted so long in English usage were it not for their evocation of noble Scottish ancestry.

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I've just tanned a luvvly jubbly big bowl of scotch porridge oats with akaezia honey, cushty.


FRitz Von Yeecanniebeatreadinthescotchmanonasundaymoaning

Do Shaky Quakers drink too much ?

The Flying Scotchman was always really Steamin

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Originally posted by Roger Bagnall:
No it isn't - from the COED

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Dictionary: opinion presented as fact, in alphabetical order.

From "The Doubter's Companion. A Dictionary of Agressive Common Sense." by John Ralston Saul

Deane