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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

†WHEELIECRUSE, n. Also -creuse, queelikruse, heljacröse (Sh. 1888 Edmondston and Saxby Home of a Naturalist 184), hellakrøs (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)), a churchyard (Ork. 1825 Jam.). Obs. The word survives only in place-names in Ork. to indicate a spot where a funeral cortege rested on its way to a burial ground (Ork. 1929 Marw.). Cf. Leckerstane.Sh. 1893 Sinclair MS. 5:
Tack du dy spade upo' dy sheuder . . . an set du aff ta da queelikruse!

[The orig. of the name has been variously explained and the different spellings have been adopted to suit etymological notions, viz. from O.N. hvila, to rest (see Wheel, v.2), O.N. heilagr, holy, and Norw. dial. kraus, krysja, a heap, or kros, a cross. The evidence is too scanty and conflicting to determine the question.]

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