Proper Glossary for Scottish Words in Brave
A story set in Scotland would be jiggery pokery without its share of Scottish words and phrases. And crivens, “Brave” has plenty! But it would all be for naught unless accompanied by a proper glossary, so here goes…
–Taught to filmmakers by Emma Thompson (voice of Queen Elinor), who used it to describe “Brave’s” Castle Dunbroch because it appears to have grown right out of the earth.
A blue dye extracted from a cabbage-type plant used by inhabitants of ancient Scotland to paint their bodies
–Lord MacGuffin and Young MacGuffin paint their bodies in blue wode to proclaim that they are ready for battle at any moment.
BUNCH OF GALOOTS
• galoot = clumsy, oafish person
A Celtic trumpet with a bell shaped like a boar’s head. Held vertically so it can be heard in large crowds, a carnyx was used during wartime to send troops into battle.
–In “Brave,” it signals the start of the Highland Games.
CRIVENS, YOU’RE FIERCE
Wow! You’re cool or ferocious or tough!
• crivens = expression of surprise or shock
DANCING TATTY BOGLE
An expression that describes something outlandish or imaginary
• tatty = shabby, cheap
• bogle, boggle or bogill = ghost or folkloric being
A dialect from the Aberdeenshire region in Scotland
–Elgin native Kevin McKidd (voice of MacGuffin and Young MacGuffin), who learned Doric from his grandfather, proposed to filmmakers for Young MacGuffin to speak the incomprehensible dialect in “Brave.”
Unwanted stomachache or a bad case of the nerves
• collywobbles = upset stomach; intestinal disturbances or a feeling of apprehension
For no reason
FINISH WHAT HE GUDDLED IN THE FIRST PLACE
Fix, clean up or otherwise remedy something that’s been horribly mishandled.
• guddle = make a mess of it
An unfortunate bit of magic
• gamy = bad
Small, narrow, secluded valley
GOOGLY OLD HAG
Outlandish, unattractive senior
• googly = strange, odd
GIANT HAVING A JIGGER IN THE BLUEBELLS
Similar to Dancing Tatty Bogle, something that’s absurd or fantastical
Though some will joke that a haggis is a small animal native to Scotland, it is actually a traditional Scottish pudding made with sheep’s heart, liver and lungs, encased in a sheep’s stomach and cooked for several hours. Often served with “neeps and tatties” (turnips and potatoes).
Festivals that celebrate Scottish and Celtic culture and heritage, especially that of the Scottish Highlands. Includes competitions in piping and drumming, dancing, archery, caber tossing, stone put and other Scottish athletics, plus entertainment and exhibits.
JINGS CRIVENS HELP MA BOAB
Exclamation of bewilderment or exasperation
A pleated and draped tartan fabric garment worn by Scottish men
–During the production of “Brave” director Mark Andrews and several animators wore kilts to work on Fridays—dubbed Kilt Fridays—to get in the spirit of Scotland and the film’s characters.
Unsavory person or being
• manky = dirty, worthless or in bad taste
Wow! Holy cow!
An exclamation of surprise, shock or being overwhelmed
A tricky or slick being with magical powers
• scaffy = trickster
SCARED SIMPERIN’ JACKANAPES
Belittling description of a goofy and unworthy opponent
• simpering = silly smile
• jackanape = an insulting reference to a monkey or ape; a braggart; a mischievous child
SCUTTLE THE VIKING LONGSHIPS
Sink Viking ships by making holes in the bottom
STUFF HER GOB
Eat with abandon
• gob = mouth
A specially designed woven fabric that identifies a clan. April 6th is National Tartan Day in the United States.
A test of strength and skill seen in Highland Games in which the competitor raises a pole vertically with the small end down, and then throws it
• Caber = a long, tapered section of a tree trunk
Turnip… or foolish person. Or both.
WE’LL BILE YUR HEED WAE DUMPLIN’ BREED; TAE MAKE AN URSINE STEW
• bile yer heed (boil your head) = don’t be ridiculous. Also used as an exclamation if someone is doing something stupid and it’s annoying
–In “Brave” King Fergus sings what he’ll do to the demon bear Mor’du when he catches him to avenge his lost leg. Not only will he boil his head, but he’ll add dumplings to make a bear stew.
WILL O’ THE WISPS
Ghostly lights or small blue spirits that lead the way to treasure or doom.
–In “Brave,” the will o’ the wisps lead Merida to change her fate.
Related Link: View the Full Production Notes for Brave