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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

EART, Ert, Aert, n. Sh. forms and usages of Eng. earth (Sh.¹⁰ 1949). See P.L.D. § 165. Cf. Erd and Yird. [ert, ært, ɪrt]Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 11:
Bit gin the wur ae t'ing mair or anither on de face o' the e'rt' 'at he was f'ared for, hid wus a lo'did gun.Sh. 1916 J. Burgess Rasmie's Smaa Murr (23 Feb.):
A cloister is no da best huvvy for da saat o da aert.

Combs.: ‡(1) eart bark, the roots of tormentil, Potentilla tormentilla, used medicinally and in tanning leather (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; 1914 Angus Gl.; 1947 Shet. Folk Bk. (ed. Tait) I. 81; Sh.¹⁰ 1949); †(2) ert-bile, a quagmire or quaking bog (Sh. 1900 E.D.D.); cf. Bile, n.⁴; †(3) eart bleck, — blekk, a black earth found in mossy soil used as a dye or paint (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.: 1914 Angus Gl.); (4) eart-fast, earth-fast (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Sh.¹⁰ 1950); see Erd, n., 3; (5) ert hyle, an earth-hole or pit (Sh. 1900 E.D.D.); (6) ert-kent, of world-wide reputation, known universally (Sh.³ 1943; Sh.¹⁰ 1949).(1) Sh. 1845 T. Edmondston Flora Shet. 35:
The large praemorse root (termed “Earth bark”) is used as a substitute for oak bark in tanning for which purpose its intense astringency well fits it.Sh. 1931 J. Nicolson Tales 103:
The juice of the “eart' bark” (tormentil) was used as a tonic, and also as a corrective for disorder of the stomach.(2) Sh. 1897 Shet. News (29 May):
A hill fou o' yarfs, myres, ert-biles, muiry dubs, an' muckle burns.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 34:
Da weemen fok 'ill tink we' re faain atill a aert-bile.(3) Sh. 1879 Shet. Times (21 June):
‘Eart-bleck' (. . . one of the compounds of iron), which they utilise as a black dye.(4) Sh. 1937 J. Nicolson Yarns 87:
On the night when the first winter moon was visible, the lasses were used to “rin aboot the eart-fast stane.” Selecting a large stone that was firmly embedded in the ground, the performer would go round it three times with the sun, and three times against.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 70:
He wis beetlin awa wi' a muckle hammer apon a grate ert-fast lump o' stane.(5) Sh. 1899 Shet. News (18 March):
Ye needna faer him, if he keeps oot o' a yarf or a ert hyle.(6) Sh. 1897 Ib. (17 June):
A'm no caring a hair if his lugs wis sholmarkit doon ta da skult, an' if wis as ert kent as da murrit yow o' Hascussay.Sh. 1932 J. M. E. Saxby Trad. Lore 67:
Frae dat time the fiddlers o' Flammister wiz ert-kent.