Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1725-1929
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ELLWAN(D), ‡ELVAND, n. Also elwan(d), elvan(t), elvin(t). [′ɛlwən(d)]
1. A measuring rod, one Ell in length, now used as synonymous with yardstick (Ork., Cai., Mry., Bnff., Abd., Ags., Knr., Arg. 1950, obsol; Ags. 1895 J. Sturrock in Caledonia No. III. 220, elvan; Rs. (Avoch) 1916 T.S.D.C. II., elvin); a yard (Ib.). Also fig. For phr. to measure with the lang (short) ellwand, see Ell.Sc. 1725 Ramsay Gentle Shepherd Act III. Sc. i. in Poems (1728):
An Elvand fills his Hand, his Habit mean; Nae doubt ye'll think he has a Pedlar been.Sc. a.1750 in Jacobite Minstr. (1829) 70:
Come like a weaver, Donald Macgillavry, Pack on your back, and elwand sae cleverly.Lnk. c.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 107:
The people who saw the battle, alarmed the taylor, and he sallied out like a champion with his elwand in his hand.Ags. 1790 D. Morison Poems 21:
When free, Rab lap three elvant breed.Sc. 1818 Scott Rob Roy xiv.:
Pate swears it's as true that his elwand is a yard lang — (and so it is, just bating an inch, that it may meet the English measure).Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xii.:
Where perfection is the ellwand it is nae marvel if ordinary mortals come scrimply up to the standard.Ags. 1900 J. M. Barrie Tommy and Grizel viii.:
"For years and years," she said, standing straight as an elvint, "I have been able to laugh at all the ignorant fears of my childhood."Abd. 1909 C. Murray Hamewith 20:
Syne wi' the ell-wan' in his neive to haud the tykes awa He humpit roon' the country side to clachan, craft an' ha'.Ork. 1920 J. Firth Reminisc. 46:
After an hour of this work the web was measured with an ell-wand, and if found not to be sufficiently shrunk the operation was renewed.Abd. 1929 in Deeside Field 41:
There were many old household and agricultural utensils now never seen or used, such as . . . "elvins" for measuring cloth.
Hence used attrib. (1) applied to a tailor; (2) of something long and thin, as in ellwan(d) claw, -face, -shanks.(1) Lnk. 1868 W. McHutchison Poems 55:
Ell-wan Will, an's frien' the hatter. . . . Slack their drouth noo wi' caul water.Gall. c.1870 J. Heughan in Bards of Gall. (ed. Harper 1889) 238:
Puir ell-wan' Johnnie canna sleep, Since Jeanie gaed awa'.(2) Dmf. 1805 Scots Mag. (May) 357:
Now wha are ye wi' ellwand shanks, Bannet blue, an' breeks o' plaiden.Ayr. 1817 D. McKillop Poems 14:
Frae hauly rigs, we maunna flaw, But battle up his elwan' claw.Ayr. 1820 J. Goldie in Contempor. Burns (1840) 244:
Pate Paterson now rises up, Some mournfu' tale to tell, Put on an elwan-face, and said A grace as lang's himsel'.Edb. 1829 G. Wilson Sc. Laverock 167:
Tam Trench, wha wore an ellwand face, Likewise a pimpl'd nose.
2. The group of stars commonly known as the Belt of Orion (Ork.5 1900; Abd.9 1943); gen. in phrs. (1) Ellwand o' Stars; (2) King's Ellwand (Cld., Rxb. 1825 Jam.2; Cai. 1900 E.D.D.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); (3) Our (The) Lady's El(l)wand (Sc. 1710 T. Ruddiman Gl. to Douglas Aeneis, 1808 Jam.; n.Sc. 1825 Jam.2; Ork. 1920 J. Firth Reminisc. 20; Ork.5 1950).(1) Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 198:
Ellwan' o' Starrs. Those three bright stars of the first magnitude, or at least of the second, in the northern constellation Lyra, the harp . . . these three called by the Scotch the Ellwand, from their seeming to the eye to be about equally distant from other, and in a straight line. Who knows yet but this ellwand may indeed be used as an ellwand for measuring all over the earth.(2) Slk. 1818 Hogg B. of Bodsbeck I. 140:
The se'en starns had gaen oure the lum, an' the tail o' the king's elwand was just pointin' to the Muchrah cross.Slk. 1822 Hogg Perils of Man I. 261:
Yonder's the king's ellwand already begun to bore the hill; ay, there's ane o' the goud knobs out o' sight already.(3) Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xiii.:
Frae peep o' day till the Lady's Ellwand stood ower the lum-head, I keepit the needle reekin' an' whistled like a lintie.
3. As a plant-name in phr. the King's Ellwand, the foxglove, Digitalis purpurea (Rxb. 1919 T.S.D.C. III.; 1923 Watson W.-B.).Bwk. 1853 G. Johnston Botany E. Borders 157:
Digitalis Purpurea. . . . About Greenlaw, the plant, from its stateliness, bears the elegant name of the King's elwand.
