Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†FUILTEACH, Fultach, n. Also futtick, furtoch. Gen. in pl. A period in the month of February, of fluctuating date, orig. in Old Style including days at the end of January, and defined variously as “the two weeks preceding, and the two following Candlemas” (Per. 1825 Jam.), “the last three days of February” (Abd. 1952 Buchan Observer (26 Feb.), futtick), or even “the borrowing days” [the last three days of March] (Sc. 1832 A. Henderson Proverbs 156, furtoch).Per. 1825 Jam.:
It is commonly said, that they wish the Fuilteachs to come in with an adder's head, and to go out with a peacock's tail, i.e., to be stormy in the beginning, and mild towards the end.Sc. 1900 E.D.D.:
“The fultachs that year were fine, so we had a cold, wet harvest.” Fine fultachs meant a bad summer; stormy fultachs denoted a good summer.
