Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

JAUD, n. Also ja(a)d, jadd, jawd, jaude. Dims. ja(u)die, -y. [dʒǫ:d, dʒɑ:d]

1. A mare, a horse, gen. contemptuously (ne.Sc., Ags., Rxb. 1959).Fif. c.1700 R. Ford Vagabond Songs (1904) 281:
There was hay to ca', and lint to lead . . . And yet the jaud to dee!Sc. 1822 Scott F. Nigel iii.:
I had the ill-luck to hit his jaud o' a beast on the nose with my hat, and scaur the creature.Rxb. 1826 A. Scott Poems 108:
I never stood to fidge an' fling, Like jads that take the fret.Abd. 1933 N. Shepherd Pass in Grampians v.:
Swearin' at me like a carter at his jaud.

2. Extended uses, gen. also with a pejorative force, though sometimes merely playfully: (1) of other animals. Gen.Sc.Kcb. 1897 T. Murray Frae the Heather 44:
The jad [cow] frae the first had inclined for to fling.m.Sc. 1917 J. Buchan Poems 46:
And syne he [a fish] turned a dorty jaud, Sulkin' far doun amang the stanes.Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains & Hilly 93:
Some aul' wily jauds o' kye wisna mowse to keep richt.

(2) of a woman, usu. as a term of reprobation: a hussy, a perverse female. Gen.Sc. Also fig. of Fortune, etc. Rarely applied to a man. Phr. to play the jad, to play the wanton, be false. Freq. with playful force in the dim. (Edb. 1844 J. Ballantine Gaberlunzie x.; Sc. 1887 Jam.).Wgt. 1704 Kirkinner Session Rec. MS. (4 Dec.):
He called the landlady bitch and jadd when refuseing him more ale.Sc. 1715 Letters relating to the '15 (1730) 68:
I suppose you know that Lawers has play'd the Jad; tho' a great many of his Men have deserted him.Edb. 1720 A. Pennecuik Helicon 54:
An ill natur'd Jad, with Besom of Hairs, Sweeps me and my Plenishing down the Stairs.Ayr. 1786 Burns Holy Fair ix.:
Here sits a raw o' tittlan jads, Wi' heaving breasts an' bare neck.Peb. 1805 J. Nicol Poems I. 120:
Yet Fortune's sic a thrawart jad, Nae man can drive her wi' a gaud.Sc. 1819 Scott Bride of Lamm. xiii.:
And you, ye thowless jadd, to sit still and see my substance disponed upon to an idle . . . serving-man, just because he kittles the lugs o' a silly auld wife wi' useless clavers.Sc. 1839 Caroline Bowles Southey Solitary Hours 230:
An' that's but truth, an' little wrang,
We'll a' alloo, in siclike havers -
But let alane the jaud, or lang
She starts mair guilefu' clishmaclavers Sc. 1890 Margaret Oliphant Kirsteen (1984) 85:
'Young women,' said Drumcarro, 'there is not one I ever heard of except yourself, ye thankless jaud!Sh. 1891 J. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 46:
O sic a jadd as Baabie is — I wiss some man wid tak her.Ork. 1904 Dennison Sketches 6:
De witless jads kent no' whar tae stick the fish.Slk. 1914 Southern Reporter (17 Dec.) 9:
Impident jaud! Her an' her “feart”.Sc. 1927 John Buchan Witch Wood 280:
In my time I've meddled ower much wi' the Law for my comfort, and I ken something about the jaud.Abd. 1946 J. C. Milne Orra Loon 13:
Cursed be the clypin, kecklin', reid-faced jauds!wm.Sc. 1989 Liz Lochhead Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off 33:
Awa' tae hell wi' ye, ja jauds! Abd. 1991 Douglas Kynoch in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 87:
Twas aye afore her lads, dumfoonert at it aa,
The prood an sonsie jaud wad daat on's maist ava.
The times my face has felt the smoorichs o her moo!

(3) Of a thing: an old, or useless article (ne.Sc., Fif. 1959).Edb. 1844 J. Ballantine Gaberlunzie ii.:
I screwed up the auld jaud [a fiddle]'s heart strings and gaured her speak.

3. Phr.: Yeel's jaad, one who has nothing new to wear at Christmas (ne.Sc. 1881 W. Gregor Folk-Lore 157). See also Yuil, Eel's shard s.v. Eel, n.³, Yaud, and Pace.