What haven't the Scots given us?

[skirtingtoday]

I was going to write an article about what the Scots have given us - quite a long list when you look at it - including Uncle Sam whose parents came from Greenock in Scotland! (in a similar vein to the "Life of Brian" sketch on "What have the Romans ever done for us?) but I changed it and looked into what things that haven't come from the Scots.

Bagpipes – They first appeared around 1000BC in the Middle East.
Burke and Hare – Serial killers in Edinburgh around 1827 were actually Irish immigrants.
Haggis – Gervase Markham’s book “The English Hus-Wife from 1615 contains a recipe for haggis. First reference in Scotland was in 1747.
Scotch Eggs – Invented by Fortnam and Mason (London grocer) in 1738.
Tartan – Tartan Leggings have been unearthed in western China and other cloths from 3000 year old mummified bodies of Pharoah’s
Whisky – widely understood to be first distilled in Ireland during the 14th Century – and has possible roots a lot further back possibly to the Babylonians in 2nd Millennium BC.
Kilt – Origins of a kilt-like garment called the shendyt come from ancient Egypt. Even the modern “wearable” kilt was invented by an English Quaker in the 1720’s.

Interesting?

[dillon]

But they have fostered so many old politically-incorrect jokes about frugality...how could we not love them?

Example: How much whiskey can a Scotchman drink? Answer... any given amount...

Also they gave us Billy Connally, and he is a favorite of mine.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebri ... sease.html

[Big and Bashful]

Mind if I steal your post and send it to Facebook? it should get some debate going amongst my Scottish friends!

[MrNaturalAZ]

The only one I had never heard of was:

Scotch Eggs – Invented by Fortnam and Mason (London grocer) in 1738.

Had to look that one up. Sounds quite tasty - I might have to try making some one of these days.

[skirtingtoday]

Mind if I steal your post and send it to Facebook? it should get some debate going amongst my Scottish friends!

No problem B&B - surprisingly true all of it, though a more interesting one is what the Scots HAVE given us... (quite a long list when you look into it)

But they have fostered so many old politically-incorrect jokes about frugality...how could we not love them?
Example: How much whiskey can a Scotchman drink? Answer... any given amount...
Also they gave us Billy Connally, and he is a favorite of mine.

Yes dillon, it has been proven that Scots do give more to charities than per capita than the rest of the UK.

"Scotchman" - had to look that one up though I guessed it's meaning. Correctly it should be Scotsman (the person) and Scotch (the drink).

And BTW "whiskey" is the irish spelling for the amber nectar and "Whisky" is the Scottish word. - So the real answer to the joke would be "None"

[STEVIE]

Hi S.T.
Please don't forget the "Stonehaven Pipe", much beloved of generations of working men and I don't doubt some women across the globe.
I bought one in a very upmarket shop in Paris, many years ago, they knew exactly what I was describing, given my very basic French, no mean feat.
Any other pipe smokers in the cafe or am I the only one?
Steve.
B.T.W. they really did originate in Stonehaven, small coastal town about fifteen miles south of Aberdeen. The oldest moulds are still held in the local museum.

[Uncle Al]

Hi Stevie

I've searched for images, and locations to buy, a Stonehaven pipe.
Would you post a pic of one and a link to a website where they can
be purchased I inherited my father-in-law's pipe collection and
will add them to my own.
With my beard I usually use my 'Parsons Pipe', similar to this

Long Stem Pipe JPEG 2014-08-21.jpg

Uncle Al

[MrNaturalAZ]

Most of the hits on "Stonehaven Pipe" are for a particular blend of tobbacco, but I did come up with the following:

http://tampandpuff.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1988
(photo at http://tampandpuff.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1988#p69605)

Referenced from that thread is another thread with many more:
http://tampandpuff.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=4550

[STEVIE]

Hi,
Al, I'd call that pipe a "Church Warden".
Thanks for posting the link MrNaturalAZ. The comment about them "smoking hot" is very true unless you use a very dark tobacco. Basically forget anything with a high golden content.
The old boys in Scotland generally used a dark plug tobacco, we call it "bogie roll". Superb but almost impossible to get now.
I have smoked an American blend, Captain Black's Royal. It's not allowed in the U.K. now because of import restrictions. I thought it was really good and a very cool smoke.
Steve.

[Departed Member]

Breaking from format a little bit, 3 American English words the Scots gave us (Scotch-Irish included) are "hillbilly," "redneck," and "y'all." True story...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb0IkWBLems