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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SHETLAND, prop.n. The name of the most distant group of islands off the north coast of Scotland, called by the Norse Hjaltland (see S, letter, 6. (1)(iv)). Freq. used attrib. with the names of animals, plants or objects native or peculiar to or originating in Shetland as Shetland aits (= gray oats s.v. Gray, adj., 1. (18)), -boat (see Sixern, Yoal), -coo, -collie, -hap (see Hap, n.¹, 1., and 5. below), -pony (see Sheltie), -spade (see Tuskar). (Auld) (braid) Shetland is applied to the modern dialect speech of Shetland (see Norn). [Sc. ′ʃɛtlən(d); ne.Sc. ′ʃitlən]

Special Combs.: 1. Shetland bun, a kind of ginger-bread cake in a thin pastry case with slits on the top (Abd. 1957); 2. Shetland grey, a natural grey colour like that of Shetland wool; 3. Shetland hose, stockings made of Shetland wool; 4. Shetland kail, cabbage of the drumhead variety; 5. Shetland shawl, a kind of very fine lace-work shawl made of Shetland wool. Gen.Sc.; 6. Shetland sheep, a breed of small sheep with fine wool native to Shetland, now much interbred with other varieties and rare in its pure form; 7. Shetland soda, human urine used as a detergent (Sh. 1954); 8. Shetland stockings, = 3. above; 9. Shetland wool, the wool of the Shetland sheep noted for its fine quality.2. Sc. 1896 Fleming Reid & Co. Price List 36:
Drawers. Spliced Seats. Woollen (in Shetland or Natural Grey).3. Fif. 1807 A. Williamson Poems 126:
Holes unnumber'd, through his Shetland hose.Edb. 1819 Edb. Ev. Courant (31 July) 1:
Shetland Hose, Mitts, &c.Sc. 1855 J. C. Morton Cycl. Agric. II. 833:
Genuine Shetland hose.4. Sh. 1884 Crofters' Comm. Evid. II. 1353:
What kind of cabbage is grown? — What is called Shetland kail.5. Lth. 1856 M. Oliphant Lilliesleaf lvii.:
A bit small Shetland shawlie upon me before-hand, over my brown silk gown.Sc. 1874 R. Cowie Shetland 186:
The manufacture of fine Shetland shawls thus became common about 1840.6. Sc. 1790 Trans. Highl. Soc. I. xxxiv.:
The Shetland sheep are never clipt, or shorn, but about the beginning of June the wool is pulled off (which is done without the smallest pain, or injury to the animal) leaving the long hairs already mentioned.Sh. 1814 J. Shirreff Agric. Sh. 62:
The Shetland sheep is the ovis cauda brevi, common to Norway, Sweden, and Russia.Sc. 1895 Sc. Home Industries 115:
The true Shetland sheep is a small creature, very active, more like a goat in its running, climbing and leaping, than like its quiet, slow relation, the Cheviot or black face.7. Sh. 1964 Sh. Folk Book IV. 7:
The kettle or receptacle for collecting and storing “Shetlan-soda” stood nearest the door.8. Sc. 1790 Trans. Highl. Soc. I. xxxiv.:
The coarse Shetland stockings sold at Edinburgh for about 5½d. per pair.Sc. 1800 Edb. Advertiser (1 April) 207:
A good quantity of English and Shetland Stockings.9. Sh. 1790 J. Shirreff Agric. Sh. (1814) App. 46:
The value of the Shetland wool depends on its quality.Sc. 1883 J. R. Tudor Ork. and Sh. 160:
The finest Shetland wool, which is very scarce, and every year becoming scarcer, is reserved for the very finest shawls and veils.