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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

TONGUE, n., v. Also tong (Ork. 1956 C. M. Costie Benjie's Bodle 66), †tonge (Edb. 1733–5 Sc. Antiquary XVII. 198), †toung (Sc. 1753 Earls Crm. (Fraser 1876) II. 242), †towng (Sc. 1728 F. and W. Moncrieff Moncrieffs (1929) 414), tung. Sc. forms and usages. [tʌŋ]

I. n. 1. As in Eng. Sc. forms:em.Sc.(a) 1991 Kate Armstrong in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 113:
Ah spak wi the tung o thon angels seemin
adrift in the auld reek, an aye shiftin
on endless stairs tae the heichts, liftin
the likeliest

Sc. combs. and deriv.: (1) tong(g) a blaa [ < tongue of blaw], incessant speaking, garrulity (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gt., 1914 Angus Gl.); (2) tongue-betrusht, blunt, candid, outspoken (Abd. 1910 Scotsman (26 May), Abd. 1929). The second element may derive from Troush, to tuck up, shorten. Cf. Eng. short, of speech; (3) tongue-bluider, -bleeder, the goose-grass, Galium aparine (see quot.). Also in Eng. dial.; (4) tongue-deaving, stupefyingly talkative, tiresomely loquacious (Sh., Bnff. 1972). See Deave; (5) tongue-ferdy, glib, voluble. See Ferdy, adj., 1.; (6) tongue-hung, id., having a loose tongue, sc. suspended like a bell; †(7) tongue-law, argument, wrangling, altercation; (8) tongue-lowser, a tongue-loosener, an aid to conversation, a stimulant to talk (Ork. 1972); (9) tongue-of-butter, a flattering, smooth-spoken person; (10) tongue o the trump, the vibrator in a Jew's harp (I.Sc. 1972). Hence fig. the indispensable part or person, the chief or most active person in a group or enterprise, the life and soul of a party (Bnff. 1972), etc. See also Stang, n.², 5., Tang, n.², 3., Trump; †(11) tongue-persecutor, one who deals in slander or invective; (12) tongue-raik, -rake, flow of language, volubility (Sc. 1825 Jam.), freq. implying railing or scolding; hence as a v., to scold, rage at, vbl.n. tongue-raikin, a scolding (Fif. c.1850 Peattie MS.); (13) tongue-ruit, the root of the tongue, in phrs. at one's tongue-ruits, on the tip of one's tongue, of a statement about to be articulated (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Sh., Cai. 1972); his tongue reet's floatan, he is drunk (Cai. 1972), he's to tongue reet, he's full up with drink (Cai. 1921 T.S.D.C.); ¶(14) tongue-strabush, a babel of voices, a clamour. See Strabush; (15) tongue-tack(it), tongue-tie(d) (Sh., Cai., Abd., Ags., Per. 1972). See Tack, v.¹, 1.; (16) tongue-t(h)ief, a slanderer (Sh. 1972); (17) tongue-thrash, to scold, rebuke with vehemence. Hence vbl.n. tongue-thrashin, a severe scolding. Also in Eng. dial.; (18) tonguie, -ey, glib, loquacious, fluent, able to assert oneself in argument (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Sh., Cai. 1972).(2) Sc. 1928 J. G. Horne Lan'wart Loon 25:
But whiles his faither could ha'e wusht, That Tam were nae sae tongue-bethrusht [sic].(3) Bwk. 1853 G. Johnston Botany E. Borders 100:
Children, with the leaves, practise phlebotomy upon the tongue of those play-mates who are simple enough to allow it; and hence they call the plant bluid-tongue or tongue-bluiders.(4) Edb. 1881 J. W. McLaren Chimla-lug 51:
A tongue-deavin' randy — you'll no find her match.(6) Dmf. 1921 J. L. Waugh Heroes 110:
Wi' a wife tongue-hung, like you, Queeny's sorrows are no' far to seek.(7) Lnk. a.1832 W. Watt Poems (1860) 184:
Wi' women 'tis needless to gang to tongue-law.(8) Abd. 1923 R. L. Cassie Heid or Hert ii.:
That tay o' Maggie's is a capital tongue-lowser.(9) Bwk. 1821 W. Sutherland Poems 26:
The whilliewha slid tongues o' butter I canna bide them.(10) Ayr. 1795 Burns Election Ball. ii. 11.:
There'll be black-nebbit Johnie, The tongue o' the trump to them a'.Sc. 1824 Scott Redgauntlet x.:
He is the tongue of the trump to the whole squad of them.(11) Sc. 1727 P. Walker Remark. Passages 75:
The greater Part Tongue-persecutors, and some by Hands.(12) Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin x. xi., xxii.:
The head-man, wha, frae his tongue-rake, appeared to be an Englisher. . . . They nearly windit themsels wi' the violence o' their ill-scrapit tongue-rake. . . . I couldna mak' oot frae their tongue-rake hoo the pley had arisen.Sc. 1928 J. G. Horne Lan'wart Loon 23:
Tam tint his tongue-raik a' thegither.(13) s.Sc. 1898 E. Hamilton Mawkin xx.:
It was at my very tongue-roots to offer to give you a lift.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 20:
It was at ma tung-ruits ti cry on the hoattery affair.(14) Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry 108:
Naething heard and naething seen, But tongue-strabush and war.(15) Mry. 1873 J. Brown Round Table Club 113:
Eppie, ye're sayin' naething — aye tongue-tackit amo' frem't fouk.Dmb. 1889 D. Macleod Poets Lennox 231:
Love mak's ane look fule, Wae, tongue-tackit, an' dule.Lnk. 1947 G. Rae Sandy McCrae 144:
When my tongue-tackit thocht is by-wi' here.(16) Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 229:
Of slanderers it is said: ‘ye may lock afore a haand t'ief, but no afore a tongue t'ief.'(17) Gsw. 1872 J. Young Lochlomond Side 158:
Oor guidwife will for that to him buckle, An' soundly tongue-thrash him.Uls. 1911 F. E. Crichton Soundless Tide ii.:
Them tongue-thrashin's in later life's different.(18) Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 87:
Before a tonguey woman's noisy plea Shou'd ever be a cause to dantan me.Sc. 1825 Scots Mag. (Jan.) 71:
Their minister, who is a tonguie fallow.Edb. 1847 J. H. A. Macdonald Life Jottings (1915) 192:
He's a tonguey cratur, but, eh, he's haaley (hollow).Slg. 1893 R. M. Fergusson My Village 152:
Daft Nanny, Tonguey Jenny.

2. Phrs.: (1) aff one's tongue, orally, by word of mouth, as opposed to writing (Abd., Kcd., Ags., Per., Wgt., Rxb. 1972); (2) on or upon one's tongue, on the tip of one's tongue, on the point of utterance (Cld. 1880 Jam.; Uls. 1953 Traynor; Sh., n.Sc., Ags. 1972); ready to be recited, by heart or rote (n.Sc. 1825 Jam.); (3) the tongue o the trump, see 1. (10); (4) to burn one's tongue in other people's broth, to interfere in other people's business, to be meddlesome; (5) to haud or keep one's tongue aff (a bodie), to restrain oneself from scolding (someone). Gen.Sc.: (6) to keep one's tongue ahint (atween, within) one's teeth, to refrain from speaking, to keep silent (I.Sc., Cai., Abd. (-atween-) 1972. Also in Eng dial.; (7) to lay one's tongue til, to divulge, speak of, mention. Also in Eng. dial.; (8) tongue wi you, a command to be silent: shut up!; nonsense!, fiddle-sticks!; (9) to pit one's tongue til, = (7) (Sh., n.Sc., em.Sc.(b), Gall. 1972); (10) to set one's tongue to, to discuss, talk about.(1) Sc. 1825 Jam.:
“Did you give it in writing? ” “ Na, I gi'ed it aff my tongue.”(2) Abd. 1882 W. Alexander My Ain Folk 191:
I cudna 'a never leernt to get screeds o' things upo' my tongue like that laddie.Abd. 1970:
It was juist on my tongue tae say't, fan I thocht better about it and heeld it again.(4) m.Lth. 1857 Misty Morning 6:
Her propensity for “burning her tongue in other people's broth.”(5) Sc. 1894 L. Keith Lisbeth ii.:
She never can keep her tongue off the man.(6) Kcb. 1895 Crockett Moss Hags xviii.:
Keep a calm sough, an' your tongue far ben within your teeth.Sc. 1897 L. Keith Bonnie Lady 118:
Keep your tongue within your teeth, and let that be which you cannot end.(7) Sh. 1899 Shetland News (28 Jan.):
We wirna bidden ta lae wir tongues til hit fil we saw.Kcb. 1902 Crockett Dark o' the Moon vii.:
It wad pleasure me to hear ye lay your tongue till't.(8) Abd. 1837 J. Leslie Willie & Meggie 53:
Tongue, wi' ye, Willie, an' nae bather me.(9) Per. 1883 R. Cleland Inchbracken ix.:
Atween what they said, and what they garred a body think, tho' aiblins they mayna hae puiten their tongue til't.(10) Kcd. 1902 Crockett Dark o' the Moon v.:
It's nae less than Laird Tarkirra that they will set their tongues to.

3. Impudence, abuse, violent language (Uls. 1953 Traynor: ne.Sc., Ags., wm., sm.Sc. 1972). Also in Eng. dial.Fif. 1869 St Andrews Gazette (16 Jan.):
There was “tongue going on, but no shouting or roaring.”Ayr. 1891 H. Johnston Kilmallie I. ii.:
I would try and put up wi' her tongue.

4. An Orkney sheep-mark, a tongue-shaped remnant left on the side of the ear (Ork. 1929 Marw., Ork. 1972).

II. v. To scold, vituperate, revile (Uls. 1929). Gen.Sc. Vbl.n. tonguin, a scolding, an abusive attack (Id.). Now rare or dial. in Eng.Sc. 1858 Scotch Haggis (Campbell) 78:
Sic anither tongueing as she gied them about the rights o' women.Gall. 1881 J. K. Scott Gleanings 104:
She a' the neebours roun' aboot Weel tongues, up hill an' brae.Cai. 1896 J. Horne Canny Countryside 66:
Putting the minister's action and Babbie's tonguing alongside of each other.Ags. 1901 Dundee Advertiser (14 Feb.) 2:
She met him in Small's Wynd, and “tongued” him.Abd. 1950:
She tongued him up hill and doun dale.Gsw. 1947 Margaret Hamilton in Moira Burgess and Hamish Whyte Streets of Stone (1985) 49:
Cleaning the stair lavatory after he had been sick, she would grow angry, and resolved to give him a tongueing, but when she came in a saw the bowed man, looking so miserable, with the thin streaks of hair across his head, it would all boil down to 'Ach Faither, you're hopeless!'