The terms discussed in this chapter reflect the significant influence of Gaelic and Old Norse on Scots. Some also remind us of the traps that can culturally derail the unwary traveller. In much the same way that Americans typically walk around in public wearing pants and suspenders – while Brits tend to keep such things concealed – not everything is as it might seem at first sight. If a tree falls in a Scottish forest, is it a forest?
The diversity of words found across the country and across time attests to a complex network of terminology, some of which is now only known to us from place-names. It also provides some interesting fodder for riddles – where else but in Scotland can you encounter whams and slaps (and even a peck) while touring the countryside, yet still come home unscathed?