Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

ORKNEY, prop. n. The name of the group of islands lying immediately to the north of Scotland, used attrib. in combs.: 1. Orkney chair, a type of wooden armchair, with a high, often slightly curved, back made in Orkney of woven straw or bent grass (Sc. 1895 Sc. Home Industries 172–4). Gen.Sc.; 2. Orkney cheese, a kind of cheese made in Orkney after the Dunlop method, introduced into Orkney at the end of the 18th c. and recently become a considerable industry (Ork. 1929 F. M. McNeill Sc. Kitchen 214). Gen.Sc.;

3. Orkney moggan, in proverbial phr. in quot. See Moggan, a footless stocking; †4. Orkney Tuscan, a straw-plaited hat, like those of Tuscan straw, made in Orkney when the straw-plaiting industry flourished there during the first half of the 19th c. The industry was introduced from England, which was the chief market for the goods (see Stat. Acc.² XV. 7, 62).1. Sc. 1953 St. Andrews Cit. (24 Oct.) 4:
Umbrella stands; Orkney Chair; Mahogany Rocking Chairs.Sc. 1963 Scottish Field (April) 64:
The Orkney chair is the only chair which can be called traditional to Scotland, though it dates from only 1878 when D. M. Kirkness began making them.2. Sc. 1962 Scots Mag. (Sept.) 499:
2000 gallons daily is converted into the famous Orkney cheeses.3. Cai.⁹ 1939:
You have a memory like an Orkney moogan.4. Sc. 1734 Sc. Antiquary XII. 26:
For Black Orkney Stuff for the Assessor's gown . . . 8s. 5d.5. Ork. 1868 D. Gorrie Orkneys 25:
Some thirty or forty years ago, the whole female population of the place [Kirkwall] was employed in plaiting rye-straw, of which material the Orkney Tuscans were made; but the free importation of foreign straw superior in quality, and the reduction of duty on foreign straw-plait, altogether ruined this important branch of industry.