Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
HABBITROT, n. A name given to the chief fairy in the s.Sc. version of Whippity-Stourie (s.Sc. c.1831 Proc. Bwk. Nat. Club (1916) 67). Also habi-, habby- (Ib.) and habe-.s.Sc. 1866 W. Henderson Folk-Lore 221:
In the old days, when spinning was the constant employment of women, the spinning-wheel had its presiding genius or fairy. Her Border name was Habetrot.
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Habbitrot n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 27 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/habbitrot>
