Folktales & traditions
Reviews
Wilfully idiosyncratic yet curiously useful . . . A lightly erudite and well-informed work of eclectic scholarship
Times Literary Supplement
Compelling and quirky . . . under Ian Crofton’s eye, the rollicking spirit of Scotland, old and modern, comes proudly alive . . . A lifesaver for those in need of diversion and enlightenment
Sunday Herald
This is such a linguistic and etymological treasure trove that once picked up it is virtually impossible to put down
Scottish Field
A book that will provide many happy hours of dipping into . . . A sheer joy
Scottish Life
It is nigh impossible to reach the item you first set out to read without being sidetracked by other beguiling morsels
The Herald
A fascinating collection of words, phrases and stories
Dundee Courier
About the Book
INCLUDES HUNDREDS OF NEW AND EXPANDED ENTRIES
From ‘Aald Rock’ to ‘Zeenty-teenty’, A Dictionary of Scottish Phrase and Fable is an unputdownable gallimaufry of curious items embracing sayings, put-downs, insults, mottos, traditions, legends, folklore, customs, festivals, games, songs, dances, nicknames – and much, much more.
This new edition features many expanded entries, as well as completely new ones – including Big Tam, the Third Forth Bridge, the Loony Dook and the War of the One-eyed Woman. The result is a kaleidoscopic snapshot of the Scottish nation, both past and present, from the mythical origins of the Scots in ancient Scythia to the foibles of modern Follyrood, from Sawney Bean to Oor Wullie, from ‘The end of an old song’ to ‘Aw fur coat and nae knickers’, from The Heart of Midlothian to ‘Ye cannae shove yer granny aff a bus’.
In more than 4,500 such entries, A Dictionary of Scottish Phrase and Fable weaves an endlessly entertaining tapestry incorporating the texture and fabric of a nation’s ever-shifting sense of itself.
The Author
Ian Crofton
Ian Crofton's books exploring the interplay of landscape, nature and history include Walking the Border: A Journey between Scotland and England, rated by both The Guardian and Trail magazine as 'excellent'. His Fringed with Mud and Pearls: An English Island Odyssey was described by the BBC’s Countryfile as 'really engaging', and by Coast magazine as 'a fascinating study about what it means to exist on the fringes'; it was selected by the Telegraph as one of their top twenty travel books of 2021. Upland: A Journey Through Time and the Hills was published in May 2025.
