Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

DAG, Dya(u)g, n.² Usu. in pl.: fishermen's tabu-name for the woollen mittens or half-mittens worn to protect their hands from cold and from the friction of the line (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; 1908 Jak. (1928); 1914 Angus Gl.); a cloth wrapped round the fingers for the same purpose.Sh.(D) 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales xi.:
Pit in my mittens an' my dags.Abd. 1932 J. Leatham Fisherfolk N.-E. 45:
He next endued his fingers with rags which he called “dyaugs” to protect them.Bch. 1910 J. Forrest in Book of Buchan vi. iii.:
For example we have . . . “dyag” . . . applied formerly to the cloth wrapped about the fingers when hauling the boats on to the beach with ropes and still used in hauling the catch of herrings into the boats.