A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
(Schaltie,) Shaltie, S(c)heltie, -y, n. and adj. Also: s(c)halte. [ON Hjalti a Shetlander.]Quots. f. Orkney Test. are taken from A. Fenton The Various Names of Shetland (1973) Table III.
1. noun. Once, in early use, as a nickname: (A, or the,) Shetlander.1516 Rec. Earld. Orkney 90.
Jhone Schalte
2. attrib. or adj. A Shetland (horse or pony) = sense 3 noun below.1612 Orkney Test. and Inv. 46.
1 scheltie hors, £8 1666-74 Fraser Polichron. 353.
Montross … set uppon a little shelty horse without a sude Ib. 483.
My Lord Ray gifted him a curious, curled, black, shelty horse 1685 Orkney Test.
Ane old shaltie mear Ib.
Ane old shaltie hors and a shaltie mear 1688 Ib.
Ane shaltie horse
3. noun. A Shetland pony.1633 (1711) Sibbald's Orkn. & Shetl. 22.
The little horses called shalties go softlie a natural pace, and are sure footed in ragged and steep places, they are litle bigger than asses, and are very durable Ib. 77. 1681 Orkney Test.
Ane redd shaltie … Ane broun shaltie 1687 Ib.
Ane Zetland shalte of sixteine yeir 1697 Rental of Brabster in Old-lore Misc. IX i 48.
Ane accompt of horse, shalties and meares and staiges
