Welcome to the revamped Things in Scots series. In this incarnation of TiS, I’m sharing the Scots language found in my upcoming romantic suspense novel, Running the Asset.
I heard this week’s word a lot growing up and beyond. I still use it today, usually to myself (read: Neenee, my inner chimp has a tendency to yap a lot).
Here’s the snippet… (unedited first draft)
What Adam wouldn’t give to have his SIG Sauer in his hand right now. Maybe then Leigh Frost would wheesht. Silence he could deal with; he could make the quiet ones tell him their secrets. From the moment they’d cuffed her to the interrogation room table she’d gibbered on non-stop. Everything from Marseille’s varied history to the local fucking soap. Not a damned word about the bomb she’d planted, nor the drive she’d lifted. The woman was almost as infuriating as Elle, though the things in Leigh’s dossier said she was far, far deadlier.
Running the Asset (Deniable Unit #1)
I’ve got my fingers crossed that the context hinted that wheesht means shut up, be quiet, hold her tongue.
This is still prevalent today; a common phrase is, “Haud yer wheesht.” Meaning hold your tongue or be quiet. Wheesht on its own is similar to shh or shush.
That’s it for this week
I hope you enjoyed this post. I’d love to hear your comments on how easy or difficult it was to get the gist of wheesht as it appeared in the quote.
If you find yourself inspired by the Scots words I share, add the tag #TiS or #ThingsinScots to your writing/art/photo post and drop your link in the comments.
If you want to see more Scots posts, check out the original series, Things in Scots.
Thanks for reading. Take care, and I hope to see you next week for more Scots on Manuscript Mondays!
Another word I’d not heard of, but clear from the context, Susan.
Soap? surely soup? 🤔 (says the compulsive editor dribbling bouillabaisse over a snow white tablecloth)😁
Thanks for your feedback and help, Chris, I really appreciate it!
(Oh, it is soap. Marseille is famous for its cubed soap. You can use it for your skin, hair, laundry–that table cloth, the floors… it’s pretty amazing.)
Really??? I just looked it up and I can truthfully say that I have never seen or heard of it. (I guess that says a lot about me – always more interested in food when abroad – or may be I was distracted by the man juggling cats I told you about).
Cats *are* extremely distracting!
How funny. I got the soap no problem, but the other eluded me until you explained it. I’d need it in a glossary at the beginning of the book.
Thanks for the feedback, Judy! There will definitely be a glossary in the book. But, I will work harder to make the words easier to understand in the text. I think this one might work best in dialogue. Again, thank you for helping!
It’s an honor. 🙂
Thank you, Judy! 😊 🤩
Nope failed that one 🙁
Thanks, Brian! I’ve had three not get this one, but that just means I try another way to get it across–probably in dialogue. You’ve been a great help on this, and I can’t thank you enough for your feedback!
👍🤗💕
Good use, sweetie, clear meaning from the context; my mind had already filled in “shut the fuck up”. Love the detail about the wee, cube soaps from Marseille 😃
Thank you, Sweetie! What your mind filled in is exactly what he was thinking. 😘
I did not get it at first Susan.
Thanks so much for the feedback, Aletta! This one seems to be a tricky one for most. I’m going to try using it in dialogue with a bit of body language in the edits. Your comments are invaluable. I really appreciate your time and help on getting this right for future readers. 🤩
You are welcome Susan. I love your work
Oh, thank you, Aletta! That means so much to me. 😊
💕
Wheesht … check! I got it right away and found it perfectly clear in context, Susan.
Please dinnae haud yer weesht, but, an gie us mair Things in Scots!
Thank ye, Stefanie, an fir aa yer help oan these! A’ll be shuir an gie ye mair.
Stefanie Neumann: liked this. via twitter.com