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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.

NEEDFIRE, n. Also neid-, and in the spurious form neats-fire from confusion with †neat, cattle.

1. Fire produced by the friction of dry wood, having reputedly magical qualities, esp. in curing or preventing epidemic diseases in cattle, or in ensuring success for a boat during the fishing season (Sc. 1801 J. Leyden Complaynt Scot. Gl.). The practice of raising needfire survived into the first half of the 19th c. See J. G. Frazer Golden Bough (1929) 638–41, and cf. forced fire s.v. Force, v.Sc. 1702 Analecta Scot. (Maidment 1834) I. 64:
I thought to have given you an account also of the Highlanders forced, or (as they call it) need fire.Cai. 1812 J. Henderson Agric. Cai. 200–1:
In those days [1788], when the stock of any considerable farmer was seized with the murrain, he would send for one of the charm-doctors, to superintend the raising of a need-fire. It was done by friction, thus: upon any small island, where the stream of a river or burn run on each side, a circular booth was erected, of stone and turf . . . in which a semicircular, or highland couple of birch, or other hard wood, was set. . . . A straight pole was set up in the centre of this building, the upper end fixed by a wooden pin to the top of the couple, and the lower end in an oblong trink in the earth or floor; and lastly, another pole was set across horizontally, having both ends tapered, one end of which was supported in a hole in the side of the perpendicular pole, and the other end in a similar hole in the couple leg. The horizontal stick was called the auger, having four short arms or levers fixed in its centre, to work it by. . . . By constant friction and pressure, the ends of the auger would take fire, from which a fire would be instantly kindled, and thus the needfire, would be accomplished. The fire in the farmer's house . . . was immediately quenched with water, a fire kindled from this needfire, both in the farm-house and offices, and the cattle brought to feel the smoke of this new and sacred fire, which preserved them from the murrain.s.Sc. 1866 Sc. N. & Q. (Ser. 3) ix. 263:
The custom of passing cattle through the “need-fire” or “neats-fire”, as it is sometimes called, is still remembered on the Scottish border.Highl. 1900 A. Carmichael Carmina Gadelica (1929) II. 369–71:
The neid-fire was resorted to in imminent or actual calamity upon the first day of the quarter, and to ensure success in great or important events. . . . The neid-fire was made in North Uist about the year 1829, in Arran about 1820, in Helmsdale about 1818, in Reay about 1830.

2. Spontaneous combustion, used fig. in Slk. 1804 quot.; the phosphorescent glow of rotten wood (Sc. 1801 J. Leyden Complaynt Scot. Gl.); in 1830 quot. phs. strictly the sparks of static electricity.Slk. 1804 Hogg Poems (1865) 79:
While neid-fire kyndlit in hys ee.s.Sc. c.1830 Proc. Bwk. Nat. Club (1916) 60:
If the Elleree see sparks of fire (neidfire) falling on any person, it prognosticates his death.

3. A beacon, a warning fire. Only in Scott.Sc. 1805 Scott Last Minstrel III. xxix.:
The ready page with hurried hand Awaked the need-fire's slumbering brand.