An Inverness exile who has lived in London for 40 years has written what is possibly the first dictionary of Inverness words, phrases and expressions.
An entertaining read, Snow on the Ben: A guide to the ‘real’ Inverness & Highlands, combines definitions of well-known phrases such as “right enuff'”, “hockmagandie” and “it’s worse yer improveen”, along with historical information relating to the city’s past.
It has been written by Rab MacWilliam, who was born in Inverness and brought up in Diriebught Road. A former pupil of Inverness Royal Academy, he moved to London in 1974, and enjoyed a successful career in magazine and book publishing, including becoming senior commissioning editor for non-fiction with Penguin Books and publisher at Hamlyn Books.
Now a freelance writer, Mr MacWilliam, 63, said: “The book is supposed to be informative and humorous, but it’s also slightly tongue-in-cheek.
“I spent my teenage years trying mentally to obliterate the fact that I lived in a wee Highland town and to convince myself I was, in reality, a folk-blues guitarist who resided in Greenwich Village.
“I couldn’t wait to leave the place, so it came as something of a surprise to find myself, almost 40 years later, discussing with my sister Margaret the subject of the words and phrases our Highland granny used.”
A few weeks later, during a holiday to Majorca, he began to compile an etymological guide to the Inverness tongue in a spoof academic style.
“I sent it to a couple of old schoolmates and, to cut a long story short, the idea of the book gradually developed,” said Mr MacWilliam.
“With the help of friends, I wrote the book and I have to say that, despite being a book and magazine publisher for more years than I care to remember, this one has given me the most pleasure.
“It’s not designed to criticise the way Invernessians or Highlanders speak, but rather it’s an affectionate and friendly look at the place I still regard as home.”
Here is an edited selection from the book of some well-known Inverness words and phrases:
Coast-wester: A “cheuchter” from the Western Isles. Males are usually called Donnie, Alec or Calum and the standard female name is Morag, but often they are called “ina” preceded by a male name.
Crown: A part of Inverness best avoided in view of the number of lawyers, rugby enthusiasts, birdwatchers and assorted kilted lowlanders from south of Daviot.
Dooeen: As used in, “How’re ye dooeen?” A polite request as to your health. Can also mean a severe thrashing as in: “I’d gie’d him a right dooeen.”
Gadgie: A term for a man and said to be the “tinker” word for a male non-tinker while the female version is “manashee”. “Gadgie coff”, often heard in the far reaches of the Black Isle, means the same thing.
Hockmagandie: An illicit or casual romantic dalliance with a member of the opposite sex.
It’s worse yer improveen: A classic, and Inverness equivalent of the “tall poppy” syndrome. Nothing you may achieve, no matter how important or significant, can be acknowledged without a reminder of your fallibility. Despite its semantic illogicality, this is a real compliment.
Jar: It may be a receptacle elsewhere, but in Inverness it’s used to deliver a sharp reminder as in: “Ah’ve just jarred Wullie about thon fiver I gie’d him last week.”
Right enuff: Another Inverness classic, which indicates resigned acceptance of the veracity of a statement, combined with a petulant annoyance that one hadn’t thought of it first. Often used with “It’s Worse yer improveen.”