Scots words

“I was interested to read about the study of the Scots language,” says reader Pat Motion of Inchture. “However the word bothy – ‘a cabin for hikers to rest in’ – is a modern use of the word.

“Years ago, before the the invention of all the huge machines used in modern day farming,” she adds, “there were many more people employed to work the land. Married workers and their families an single men lived in bothies.

“This was also before there was a television set in the corner – hence an evening’s entertainment being termed ‘bothy nichts’.”

In a similar vein I have heard from another reader who says: “With regard to the Monifieth Local History Society talk which mentioned the sharing of facilities of those ‘on the plattie’.

“In my native Lochee, we spoke about ‘pletties’, pronounced as in ‘peh’. Maybe this is not considered polite in some areas?”