Page:An Etymological Dictionary of the Norn Language in Shetland Part I.pdf/174

n., mountain; rock. bjørg is doubtless the pl.-form “bjǫrg”; cf. Fær. björg, n. sing., for “bjarg”. — In the Shetl. forms bjorg [bjȯrg] and björg [björg] are found as place-names, e.g. de Bjorg (Olnesfirth Ness. Nm.); de Björg (Kokeren, Wd.), partly grass-grown, rocky formation; de Bjorgs, Björgs (N.Roe), extended, rocky, elevated ridge; de Bjorgens (Hamister, Wh.): *bjǫrgin (def. pl.) with Eng. pl.-sign “s”.

björg [björg], sb., in the compd. “finger-b.” [fɩŋ·ər-björg·], finger-stall, piece of skin, shaped like the finger of a glove, pulled over a piece of linen, tied round an injured finger. N.Roe. O.N. bjǫrg f., help; protection. Icel. fingurbjörg, No. fingerbjørg, f., finger-stall.

black-baka [-bāka], sb., = swar(t)-bak(a), sb.

black-moget [-mōgət], adj., black, with white belly, of sheep. Fo. *(svart-) mǫgóttr. See moget, adj.

blad [blād], sb., in the expr. “de’il’s [‘devil’s’] b. “ = no news at all (on inquiry about news). Yⁿ. From O.N. blað, n., blade? -blad [blad] is comm. used as L. Sc. “blad”, of a feeble person, a b. o’ a man; bladi [bladi], adj., feeble; see further blati, adj.

blad [blād], vb., 1) to reap; to cut heather for thatching, in the expr. “to b. de heddrek [‘heather’]”, tabu-expr. (used by fishermen at sea) for what is comm. called “to strike de tekk” (see tekk, sb.). 2) to cut peat, to b. be wideks (see widek, sb.), tabu-expr., sea-expr., = to fla de mør [‘moor’]. Yⁿ. Orig. prob.: to strike; throw, and is to be classed with L.Sc. blad, vb., to slap; strike, O.N. blaka, vb., to flap; wave. Sw. dial. blaa and blaka, vb., to warp; hew down; rough-hew (timber).

bladd [blad], sb., very large rain-drop, esp. in the pl.: bladds, large drops falling rapidly (when sleet is

falling); “he’s layin’ bladds upo de windeg [‘window’], de same as [‘as if’] it wis [‘was’ = had] been snaw [‘snow’]”. U^s. Sw. dial. bladda, f., a) lump of dirt; b) large fast-falling rain-drops and great, wet flakes of snow (Ri.). Deviating somewhat from L.Sc. “a blad o’ weet [‘wet’],” violent shower of rain (blad, vb., to strike; drive against, inter alia of rain).

blag [blāg], sb., interval; breathing-space; rest, reported in foll. expr. with regard to fishermen’s sea-term tabu: “halt [hä‘ᶅt] dy hands and tak’ a b.!” in fishing: stop the work (prop. keep your hands still) and take a rest! Uⁿ. O.N. blak, n., flap; tap; fluttering movement, etc. See blag, vb.

blag [(blag) blāg, bᶅāg], vb., 1) to fling; throw; throw away, to b. awa (Y^m.: bᶅâg); b. dee doon! throw yourself down (Uⁿ.: blâg), to b. de sail, to lower the sail, on a vessel, boat (Uⁿ.: blâg). N.I. At times (rarely; N.I.) in the expr.: “to b. [blag, blāg, bᶅāg] de (ane’s) and or ænd”, to give up the ghost; to die, he’s blaget his ænd (and); blaget, perf. part., adjectivally used, is more common, meaning expired; dead. 2) to b. anesell [‘oneself’], to breathe; take a (little) rest; b. dee! rest a little! = tak’ a b.! see blag, sb., Uⁿ. — O.N. blaka, vb., to tap; wave; flap; Fær. blaka, vb., to throw; fling.

blagda [blagda] and blaget [blagət, blägət], sb., 1) wedge; 2) a longish piece, cut from the belly of a fish (esp. coalfish), used for bait. Wests. blagda: Ai. blaget: Papa St.; Sa. *blagð- (*blegð-, prop. wedge). See further blegd, sb.

blaget¹, perf. part. and adj., dead, see under blag, vb. 1.

blaget² [blāgət] and bleget [blēgət (bᶅēgət, bᶅē^əgət)], adj., spotted, speckled; a b. sheep, a white sheep with black spots; de eart’ is b., the earth