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Scots Language Centre Centre for the Scots Leid

Funeral related terms - words to do with death and funerals 4

kirk In this, and other similar articles, the visitor is introduced to a number of words in Scots related to the concept of death and funerary customs. A brief explanation is given in the equivalent English together with audio files allowing the visitor to hear the pronunciation.

 

 

DEIDLIKE

Deidlike is the Scots translation of the Latin word mortal (‘subject or prone to death’).

deidlike.

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UNDEIDLIKE

Undeidlike is the Scots equivalent to the Latin immortalis (‘not subject to death’).

undeidlike.

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MURNIN(G)

The Scots verb murn is related to English mourn which both come from an old Germanic word meaning to be anxious or pine for something.

murnin.

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MURNING CAIRD

It is usual to speak about a condolence card in English (borrowed from Latin dolere – ‘to suffer or grieve’) but in Scots we may send a murning caird.

murning caird.

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MURNING LETTER

The murning letter is equivalent to the English funeral invitation.

murning letter.

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MURNING STRING

The English black sash or black armband is traditionally a murning string in Scots.

murning string.

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ORATION

In Latin an orator is ‘one who speaks’ while oratio is ‘discourse’ or ‘prayer’. This had been borrowed into Scots as oration or ‘formal discourse or speech’ and specifically meaning formal prayers.

oration.

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