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Scottish Culture/What does 'twyte' mean?

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Expert: Kaye McAlpine - 6/26/2008


Question
Hi Kaye

I was watching "Seasonally Scottish", a cooking programme on the Food TV in New Zealand.  It is hosted by Claire McDonald.  She referred to something as "terribly twyte and precious"  My question is - what does 'twyte' mean?  The meaning and origin of this word has really sparked my interest and I would really appreciate it if you could research its meaning.

Thank you.

Regards, Wendy

Answer
Hello Wendy

I'm in two minds here. I'm  trying to recall how Lady Claire MacDonald speaks - you see twyte is a Scottish word, but it's more or less obsolete. It means a reproach or censure.

However, does she have any sort of speech defect? Is 'twyte' actually 'trite'? This does make sense with 'precious'.

If this makes no sense - I haven't seen the episode - please just get back in touch.

Best wishes

Kaye  

Scottish Culture

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Kaye McAlpine

Expertise

Lifecycle (birth, marriage, death) customs in Scotland, Early Modern Scottish social customs, modern Scottish social customs, Border March laws and procedures, criminal processes and judicial execution practices, social history in Early Modern Scotland, ephemera printing in Scotland. While I have some knowledge of the clan system and function of the clan society (Highland and Lowland), I am not a an expert in clan genealogy. Having traced back my own family over a couple of centuries, and traced others due to academic research, I do know how the system works, however. This doesn't mean that I'm a genealogist. Please note that I do not speak Gaelic.

Experience

Research Fellow (University of Edinburgh). Contributer to various books and journals on ballads, including Scottish Life and Society: A Compendium of Scottish Ethnology, The Ballad and History and The Harris Repertoire. Freelance tutor in outreach courses from Edinburgh University on Scottish Culture and Tradition, including lifecycle customs, broadsheet ballads in Scotland, the traditional ballad and history. Freelance writer, guest presenter on Ch4 History Hunters programme, contributor to BBC Radio Scotland's 'Songlines' series on 'The Dowie Dens of Yarrow'. Currently co-director of a media production company

Publications
Books: Forthcoming: The Gallows and The Stake Published: Compendium of Scottish Ethnology, vol. 10, chapter on The Traditional and the Border Ballad; The Harris Repertoire (2000, Scottish Text Society, co-editor), The Ballad in History (chapter on Border ballads). Journals include Folklore, The Review of Scottish Culture,Sottish Studies, and The Scottish Literary Journal

Education/Credentials
Ph D, M. Phil, BA (hons)

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