Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
FURTO, n. Chewed or crushed limpets scattered on the water as bait, esp. for coal-fish (Ork. 1929 Marw.). [′fʌrto]Ib.:
The true old furto consisted of chewed limpets which had been previously “leeped” or scalded to take off the shells. Fishermen then chewed these limpets into small portions and “spat out furto.”
