Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1802-1850, 1927-1956
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KELSO, n. The name of a town in Rxb., used attrib. in the following phrs.: 1. Kelso boll, a measure of grain (see quot.); †2. Kelso boots, "heavy shackles put upon the legs of prisoners; by some supposed to be a sort of stocks" (Rxb. 1825 Jam.); †3. Kelso convoy, (1) the accompanying of a parting guest no farther than to the door; (2) the act of accompanying a friend nearly or all the way home, and being accompanied some part of the way back again by him (Sc. 1825 Jam.). See Convoy, Scots; 4. Kelso herrin', a derisive name applied by neighbouring townspeople to young Kelsonians (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Also in form Kelsae kipper (Rxb. 1975); †5. Kelso rung, a stout staff (Ib.); 6. Kelso traveller, see quot. Also Kelsonian, a native of Kelso (see 1845 quot. below).1. Bwk. 1927 R. S. Gibb Farmer's 50 Years 33:
In 1875, I had hired a "Double Hind" (two ploughmen in one home), one, the father, at the "Big Boll," or "Kelso Boll" wage — that is, 100 stones of oatmeal and 4 bolls of barley (instead of, as above, 65 stones and 18 bushels respectively).3. (1) Sc. 1816 Scott Antiquary xxx.:
A Kelso convoy, a step and a half ower the door-stane.s.Sc. 1827 R. Chambers Picture Scot. I. 83:
"A Kelso Convoy" is a common phrase used from time immemorial in the Lowlands of Scotland, to signify the circumstance of being accompanied by one's host no further than the threshold, or rather, as it is commonly phrased, a step and a half owre the doorstane. The origin of this stigma upon the hospitality of Kelso is unknown; but, that the reader may the better understand the extent of satire which it implies, it is necessary to inform him, that at all old Scottish mansion houses, there was a tree at some distance from the door, called the Coglin Tree, where the landlord met his guests, and to which he always accompanied them, uncovered, when they took their departure.(2) Rxb. 1845 Stat. Acc.2 III. 325:
"A Kelso convoy" is not a shabby dismissal of a guest after attending him only to your door. The old Kelsonians did indeed finish the "convoy", by parting with their guests on the threshold; but then this parting did not take place until they had first hospitably convoyed him [the guest] to his door, and been, in return for the compliment, reconvoyed by the latter to their own.Sc. 1850 J. Grant Sc. Cavalier xxiv.:
I insist upon giving you a Kelso convoy, my lord.5. Rxb. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry Gl. s.v. Ged:
The phrase "Jethart staffs and Kelso rungs" is still common.6. Rxb. 1956 Scots Mag. (Jan.) 336:
"A Kelso traveller" (a wooden stand on wheels, on which was placed the hot water kettle at toddy parties).
