Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
HATTOCK, n. Also hadick (Sh. 1902 E.D.D.), haddock. A little (sc. fairy) hat. Found now only in phr. horse and hattock, a call to be covered and ride, used as a conjuration by witches. An arch. revival by Scott of the phr. as recorded in early witch trials.Sc. 1816 Scott B. Dwarf viii.:
Now horse and hattock, speedilie; They that winna ride for Tellfer's kye, Let them never look in the face o' me.Sc. 1833 Scott F. M. Perth vii. Note:
Horse and hattock, the well-known cry of the fairies at mounting for a moonlight expedition, came to be familiarly adopted on any occasion of mounting.Sc. 1866 W. Henderson Folk-Lore 159:
The victim provoked his destiny by echoing the cry of “Horse and hattock,” the elfin signal for mounting and riding off.Sh. 1875 Old-Lore Misc. v. i. 17:
One of the Trows exclaimed, “Horsick up haddock, weel ridden bulwand,” and in an instant all the bulwands were transformed into horses.Ayr. 1890 J. Service Notandums 101:
Then they would put a strae between their legs, cry — “Horse and hattock in the Devil's name!” and flee awa owre the muirs and fells.Mry. 1949 Abd. Press and Jnl. (19 Oct.) 2:
“Horse and hattock”, shouted the laird. When he came to himself he was in Paris, in the wine-cellar of the King of France.
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Hattock n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 8 Dec 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/hattock>