Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
LOCHGELLY, prop. n., v.
I. prop. n. The name of a mining town in w.Fife; a leather strap or tawse for punishing school children specially manufactured by a firm in Lochgelly (Ayr. 1900). Gen.Sc. Also attrib. [lɔx′gɛle]wm.Sc. 1956 R. Jenkins Guests of War 15:
The headmaster … the small fat amiable possessor of a black Lochgelly, a tawse able to bring the toughest boys to their knees in tears.Gsw. 1964 George Friel The Boy who Wanted Peace (1985) 18:
It was for being a rebel that Miss Elginbrod had given him six with her Lochgelly strap. Sc. 1995 Daily Record 5 Oct 4:
Teachers' only means of punishing unruly pupils are by detention, extra written work or, ultimately, suspension from school.
No-one is suggesting we go back to the days of the fearsome Lochgelly tawse. Sc. 1999 Edinburgh Evening News 30 Oct 5:
In English schools the cane or the slipper were the preferred instruments, while Scottish pupils were more familiar with the belt or "Lochgelly tawse." Those who can still remember the sting of the tawse have ironmonger Robert Philp to thank.
Working from the small Fife town in the 19th century, Mr Philp gave his son David a pair of tawses to help him control his charges when he was a teacher at the Lochgelly Iron Company School. Sc. 2003 Herald 31 Jan 14:
As an ex-teacher himself Jack probably knew how to deal with unruly schoolkids - hammer them with a Lochgelly tawse. As first minister in the new, caring, Scotland, he has to think of something else. Sc. 2004 Daily Record 9 Jan 13:
Maybe you could in the old days, when every teacher kept their Lochgelly handy ask your gran, children. Sc. 2004 Aberdeen Evening Express 2 Dec 18:
When I was at school most of the bullies were the teachers who liked to throw their weight around and whack kids with their Lochgelly leather belts.
II. v. To hit with a Lochgelly.Sc. 1994 Robert Crawford in Daniel O'Rourke Dream State 64:
A dominie lochgellied you once
For pronouncing 'Eelensburgh' like those wild, untouchable tinks.
