sgian dubh

plural sgian dubhs · plural sgians dubh · plural rare sgianan dubha · alternative sgian-dubh · alternative skean dhu · alternative skean-dhu · alternative skene dhu · alternative skene-dhu · alternative skhian-dhu

1. ScotlandA small, single-edged knife worn tucked into the hose (stocking) as part of traditional Scottish Highland dress along with the kilt.

   In another moment claymores and skene-dhus gleamed in the grasp of several uplifted hands; [...]

   1831, Andrew Picken, “The Deer-stalkers of Glenskiach. A Highland Legend.”, in [Andrew Picken], editor, The Club-book: Being Original Tales, &c. […] (Harper’s Library of Select Novels; XIV), Harper’s stereotype edition, volume II, New York, N.Y.: […] J[ames] & J[ohn] Harper; […], →OCLC, chapter IX, page 133

   5 more examples

   [Y]oung Durward sprung lightly as the ounce up into the tree, drew from his pouch that most necessary implement of a Highlander or woodsman, the trusty skene dhu, and, calling to those below to receive the body on their hands, cut the rope asunder in less than a minute after he had perceived the exigency.

   1823, [Walter Scott], “The Bohemians”, in Quentin Durward. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC, page 129

   Give me my skene-dhu, and let me go on my road. I should have been half way to Stirling brig by this time—Give me my dirk, and let me go.

   1827, [Walter Scott], chapter XIII, in Chronicles of the Canongate; […], volume I (The Two Drovers), Edinburgh: […] [Ballantyne and Co.] for Cadell and Co.; London: Simpkin and Marshall, →OCLC, page 302

   The hasps, which were evidently intended to be secured by padlocks, had lost their fastenings, which were supplied by two skean-dhus—the small dagger of the Highlander—which had been thrust through the iron loops, and kept the casket perfectly water-tight.

   1839, [George Robert Gleig], “Legends of the Lochs and Glens. No. I.—The Linn of the Caldron.”, in Bentley’s Miscellany, volume V, London: Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 411

   The word sgian now means any kind of knife, but formerly denoted the peculiar dirk which was one of the weapons of the Irish. It was frequently called sgian dubh, i.e. black knife, either from the usual colour of the haft, or from the fatal blow which it so often dealt.

   [1857, Standish Hayes O’Grady, editor, Toruigheacht Dhiarmuda agus Ghrainne; or, The Pursuit after Diarmuid O’Duibhne, and Grainne the Daughter of Cormac mac Airt, King of Ireland in the Third Century (Transactions of the Ossianic Society for the Year 1855; III), Dublin: […] [F]or the Ossianic Society, by John O’Daly, […], →OCLC, footnote 3, pages 97–98

   In his hand was a long, sharp-pointed "sgian-dubh," the cherished gift of his father, the plaything of his early youth, and the trusty companion of his manhood and riper years.

   1866, P. Dun, “The Earl’s Niece”, in Summer at the Lake of Monteith, Glasgow: […] James Hedderwick & Son […], →OCLC, page 41