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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

JAUD, n. Also ja(a)d, jadd, jawd, jaude. Dims. ja(u)die, -y. [dʒǫ:d, dʒɑ:d]

1. A mare, a horse, gen. contemptuously (ne.Sc., Ags., Rxb. 1959).Fif. c.1700 R. Ford Vagabond Songs (1904) 281:
There was hay to ca', and lint to lead . . . And yet the jaud to dee!Sc. 1822 Scott F. Nigel iii.:
I had the ill-luck to hit his jaud o' a beast on the nose with my hat, and scaur the creature.Rxb. 1826 A. Scott Poems 108:
I never stood to fidge an' fling, Like jads that take the fret.Abd. 1933 N. Shepherd Pass in Grampians v.:
Swearin' at me like a carter at his jaud.

2. Extended uses, gen. also with a pejorative force, though sometimes merely playfully: (1) of other animals. Gen.Sc.Kcb. 1897 T. Murray Frae the Heather 44:
The jad [cow] frae the first had inclined for to fling.m.Sc. 1917 J. Buchan Poems 46:
And syne he [a fish] turned a dorty jaud, Sulkin' far doun amang the stanes.Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains & Hilly 93:
Some aul' wily jauds o' kye wisna mowse to keep richt.

(2) of a woman, usu. as a term of reprobation: a hussy, a perverse female. Gen.Sc. Also fig. of Fortune, etc. Rarely applied to a man. Phr. to play the jad, to play the wanton, be false. Freq. with playful force in the dim. (Edb. 1844 J. Ballantine Gaberlunzie x.; Sc. 1887 Jam.).Wgt. 1704 Kirkinner Session Rec. MS. (4 Dec.):
He called the landlady bitch and jadd when refuseing him more ale.Sc. 1715 Letters relating to the '15 (1730) 68:
I suppose you know that Lawers has play'd the Jad; tho' a great many of his Men have deserted him.Edb. 1720 A. Pennecuik Helicon 54:
An ill natur'd Jad, with Besom of Hairs, Sweeps me and my Plenishing down the Stairs.Ayr. 1786 Burns Holy Fair ix.:
Here sits a raw o' tittlan jads, Wi' heaving breasts an' bare neck.Peb. 1805 J. Nicol Poems I. 120:
Yet Fortune's sic a thrawart jad, Nae man can drive her wi' a gaud.Sc. 1819 Scott Bride of Lamm. xiii.:
And you, ye thowless jadd, to sit still and see my substance disponed upon to an idle . . . serving-man, just because he kittles the lugs o' a silly auld wife wi' useless clavers.Sc. 1839 Caroline Bowles Southey Solitary Hours 230:
An' that's but truth, an' little wrang,
We'll a' alloo, in siclike havers -
But let alane the jaud, or lang
She starts mair guilefu' clishmaclavers Sc. 1890 Margaret Oliphant Kirsteen (1984) 85:
'Young women,' said Drumcarro, 'there is not one I ever heard of except yourself, ye thankless jaud!Sh. 1891 J. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 46:
O sic a jadd as Baabie is — I wiss some man wid tak her.Ork. 1904 Dennison Sketches 6:
De witless jads kent no' whar tae stick the fish.Slk. 1914 Southern Reporter (17 Dec.) 9:
Impident jaud! Her an' her “feart”.Sc. 1927 John Buchan Witch Wood 280:
In my time I've meddled ower much wi' the Law for my comfort, and I ken something about the jaud.Abd. 1946 J. C. Milne Orra Loon 13:
Cursed be the clypin, kecklin', reid-faced jauds!wm.Sc. 1989 Liz Lochhead Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off 33:
Awa' tae hell wi' ye, ja jauds! Abd. 1991 Douglas Kynoch in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 87:
Twas aye afore her lads, dumfoonert at it aa,
The prood an sonsie jaud wad daat on's maist ava.
The times my face has felt the smoorichs o her moo!

(3) Of a thing: an old, or useless article (ne.Sc., Fif. 1959).Edb. 1844 J. Ballantine Gaberlunzie ii.:
I screwed up the auld jaud [a fiddle]'s heart strings and gaured her speak.

3. Phr.: Yeel's jaad, one who has nothing new to wear at Christmas (ne.Sc. 1881 W. Gregor Folk-Lore 157). See also Yuil, Eel's shard s.v. Eel, n.³, Yaud, and Pace.