Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

HELT, n. Also haelt. I.Sc. forms of Eng. health. See P.L.D. § 165. Adj. h(a)elty. I.Sc. usages:

Comb. ill helt, misfortune; frequently used as an imprecation or expression of annoyance (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Ork. 1957) and hence as a euphemistic term for the devil. Phrs. (ill)helty [ < helt a ] (Ork. 1920 J. Firth Reminiscences (1922) 152, Ork. 1957, helty-) = devil a —; haelty ill eetim, devil a thing.Ork. 1884 R. Fergusson Rambles 166:
The devil [is called] da Auld Chield, da Sorrow, da ill-healt (health), or da black tief.Sh. 1891 J. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 3:
I kent no at first wha Ill-Helt it could be, So I says, “Feth! ye hae da advantage o me.”Sh. 1898 Shetland News (3 Sept.):
Da men is aye best aff, haelty ill eetim dey hae ta dü bit tak aff der kjaep an' set dem til.Sh. 1899 Ib. (1 July):
Clip aff as muckle or as little as doo tinks fit, ill helty hair I care.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Had gaan (i.e. away you go!) an' an ill-helt tae thee.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 27:
I aye tocht dey cood rin laek da ill helt.