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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

MORAY, n. Also Morra. The ancient northern Scottish province orig. extending from the Rivers Nairn to Deveron, and now comprising geographically the counties of Elgin and Nairn. Officially the name is applied to Elgin only. [′mʌre; locally ′mʌrə] In Combs.: 1. Morra' cairt, a cart made of slats (see quot.); 2. Moray coach, a jocular or somewhat derisive name for a cart (Bnff. 1825 Jam.). Cf. 1. 3. Moray coast, -coste, a hard subsoil or pan such as is found along the coast of Moray; 4. Moray flee, an artificial fishing fly (see quot.); ¶5. Morayshireener, an inhabitant of Morayshire.1. Bnff. 1900 Sc. N. & Q. (Ser. 2) II. 95:
“Morra' cairt”, it was called in Banffshire. Formed of rungs not close together, the flat side on the axle, the round side above, pins up the side, very convenient for peats, etc.3. Mry. 1798 Grant & Leslie Survey Mry. 344:
In some places, under a thin layer of light soil, the sole is sand, but so firmly concreted as to bear the resemblance of stone, generally of a dark brown colour. In the provincial dialect, this is termed Moray coste.Rs. 1841 Trans. Highl. Soc. 242:
24 acres of red coloured sand, with a very hard bottom, called “Moray coast”, covered with furze.Mry. 1845 Stat. Acc.² XIII. 224:
The subsoil varies considerably. In some places, it is a fine open sand, or gravel; in others, it is composed of a hard pan, called Moray coast, impervious to water.4. Sc. 1949 Weekly Scotsman (24 March):
I have never tried Sandy's secret weapon, which he now tells me is called the “Moray Flee”; never tried it because he had tied but one, and that the fish had taken away. A glance at the sketch shows how it is made, from a small piece of yellow chamois and an ordinary Thomson tackle.5. Mry. 1851 Lintie o' Mry. (Cumming) 1:
We conceive it to be an essential and important article in the creed of every leal Morayshireener.