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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

†HECTURI, n. The number six, as used by hill-shepherds in counting sheep (Dmf. 1922 Rymour Club Misc. III. 108). Variants in children's counting-out rhymes are heeturi (s.Sc. 1877 Trans. Philolog. Soc. (1877–9) 357), a heater (Rnf. c.1827 Ib.).

[Orig. ad. Welsh chwech, six, the usage deriving from that of Welsh shepherds in N. England, a.1600. See also Baombe, Daover, Dek, and P.S.A.S. xlix (1915) pp. 276–85.]

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