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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

WALT, n., v.¹ Also wilt (Abd. 1926 Banffshire Jnl. (23 March) 2; Bnff. 1930), and vocalised forms waut (Ayr. 1825 Jam., Mry. 1921 T.S.D.C. s.v. Waltams), wat(t), waat (Ayr. 1825 Jam.). Sc. forms and usages of Eng. welt. See P.L.D. §§ 76.1, 78.1. [ne.Sc., Lnk., sm. and s.Sc. wɑlt, Ayr. wǫ:t]

I. n. 1. As in Eng., the welt of a shoe (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 204; I., n., em., wm., sm., s.Sc. 1973), a selvedge or border to a piece of cloth (Gregor; w.Lth., s.Sc. 1973); a weal, mark of a blow on the skin; a blow itself, a smack (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., a walt i' the jaw).Sc. 1699 Edb. Gazette (12 Oct.):
A new English Tartan Gown, and wat with a scarlet and black strip.Bnff. 1702 Rec. Bnff. (S.C.) 235:
Tualve pennies Scots for ilk insh within the walt of best leather.Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 150:
A com'd crack for crack o'er their hurdies, till the red wats stood on their hips.Abd. 1801 W. Tarras Poems 38:
Gin onie chiel had coolie scaw't, Sic's groozl't crown, or raggit waut.Ags. 1848 Feast of Liter. Crumbs (1891) 20:
Your walts, an' soles, an' uppers torn.Lnk. 1877 W. M'Hutchison Poems 229:
Where your in-sole an' walts do rot.Cai. 1891 D. Stephen Gleanings 134:
I wanted ye to make them that a cat could go round on the walts o' them.Rxb. 1961 W. Landles Penny Numbers 22:
To the ribs' lood chorus cuissen off the wanted walts.

Comb. ¶walt-eye, a cobbler's term for the right eye as being most necessary for seeing when sewing welts.Edb. 1788 G. Wilson Masonic Songs 95:
My Walt-eye's out, my Awles are broken, My Merry Tales and Songs forgotten.

2. The rind of cheese (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 204, waat).

3. The penis of a horse (see quot.).Rnf. 1949:
At the slaughter-house in Port Glasgow they sometimes cut open the carcase of a horse to secure its genital member in its full length. It was allowed to harden, and became a welt with which they used to hit people over the head.

II. v. As in Eng. to make a welt for a shoe, saddle, etc., to put a selvedge on cloth; to lash, belt (Dmf. 1825 Jam.).Sc. 1791 Lumsden & Aitken Hammermen Gsw. (1912) 298:
A walted saddle and a pair of girths.Abd. 1828 P. Buchan Ballads II. 149:
Did you but see my bonnet blue, It's wated round wi' ribbons new.Abd. 1847 Gill Binklets 103:
Pattens, well walted wi' leather.Slk. 1885 Blackwood's Mag. (Nov.) 646:
In Flodden's bluidy pool They'll naether walt nor wear them!

Vbl.n. walting, wat(t)in(g), watten, waiting (Per. 1737 Ochtertyre Ho. Bk. (S.H.S.) 80), an edging, hem, selvedge (Sc. 1748 Caled. Mercury (March) 7), with ppl.adj. formed therefrom, waltened, wattened, wattoned, furnished with a welt or selvedge, bordered, edged (Fif. 1875 A. Burgess Poute 30).Sc. 1701 Sc. Antiquary XII. 66:
Which chire is to be lyned with fyne grey cloath musht about it and waltings.Abd. 1711 Abd. Jnl. N. & Q. VII. 151:
For a bongrass to my wife, and for silk watten and hupen.Edb. 1734 Caled. Mercury (7 Nov.):
A red Peticoat below, with a yellow Watten.Abd. 1764 Sc. N. & Q. (1st Ser.) III. 156:
To 72 yards silk Wating . . . 12s.Sc. 1767 Caled. Mercury (5 Sept., 18 Nov.):
A check apron, large lozens, walten'd with a white knitting . . . Sloutched wattoned hat.Sc. 1825–30 Earl of Aboyne in Child Ballads (1956) IV. 312, 317:
Her gown was o the silk damask, Set about wi red gold walting . . . Her coat was o the guid green silk, Turnit up wi a siller warden.