Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1879-1899, 1964
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VARNAGEL, n. Also varnag(ge)l, -nigle, -nicle, -nakel, vaarnakle; vernyaggle, ber(n)joggel. A pin, usu. of wood used as a fastening, esp. the pin which fastened together the two pieces of the wooden pack-saddle or Clibber on the back of the horse, freq. also in comb. varnagel-pin (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1908 Jak. (1928), 1914 Angus Gl., ‡Sh. 1973). [′vɑrnəgəl]Sh. 1879 Shetland Times (13 Sept.):
Comin' doon da hill da varnigle o' da baand o' da Tief's breeks lowsed.Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 129:
The waaving that held the vaarnakle or berjoggel in an upright position.Sh. 1964 Folk Life II. 9:
The Shetland saddles have a pair of horns, the muckle and peerie-, or she and he neevies or neebies, placed centrally, and one slotted through the other, with a wooden or iron pin, the vernyaggle pin, hingeing them together.
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"Varnagel n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Aug 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/varnagel>
