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.
HERDA, n. Any growing crop which has been trampled underfoot by animals; husks, stubble (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1957). Now gen. fig. = anything in a crushed or confused state, in phr. in herda, in utter confusion, in ruins, in pieces (Ib.). [′hærdə]Sh. 1879 Shetland Times (2 Aug.):
Whin he coodna look efter everything hit a' shüne güde laek herda afore da wind.Sh. 1932 J. E. Saxby Trad. Lore 131:
Broonie . . . often yarfasted the screws of corn and desses of hay against a storm, but if anyone interfered he resented that by laying both screws and desses “in Herda.”Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 93:
Wan yatlin anker keetle (wir een is in herda). A peerie box o' growin saa.
