[9] Gruize, a rigor, generally preceding a cold or fever.
[10] Gaun gyte, becoming insane, or acting foolishly.
[11] Water-rats.
[12] Den, dean, a dingle or small valley.
[13] Byke, a bees’ nest.
[14] Speer, to ask a question.
[15] The Rev. James Gordon, in his Description of both Towns of Aberdeen (1661), says—“The bruike called the Den Burne runs beneath the west side of the citie; upon the brink quhairoff a little stone bridge, at that pairt wher the brooke entereth the river Dee, the Carmelites of old had a convent, whoes church and quholl precinct of building wer levelled with the ground that very day that the rest of the churches and convents of New Aberdeen wer destroyed. There remayneth now onlie ane kilne, which standeth in the outmost south corner of the citie, known this day by the name of the Freer Kilne.”
[16] The “Taws” consist of a leather strap about three feet long, cut into tails at the end. Sometimes the ends are burnt, to make them hit hard. They are applied to the back, or the “palmies”—that is, the palm of the hand.
[17] The Auld Brig is also called the Brig o’ Balgownie. Byron, who lived for some years at Aberdeen in his boyhood, says—“The Brig of Don, near the ‘auld toun’ of Aberdeen, with its one arch and its black deep salmon stream, is in my memory as yesterday. I still remember the awful proverb which made me pause to cross it, and yet lean over it with a childish delight—being an only son, at least by the mother’s side—
‘Brig o’ Balgownie, wight (strong) is thy wa’;