Cutty-sark
Encyclopedia
"Cutty sark" is 18th century Scots
for "short chemise
" or "short undergarment
".
Hyphenated, Cutty-sark was a nickname given to the witch Nannie Dee, a fictional character created by Robert Burns
in his Tam o' Shanter
, after the garment she wore. The figurehead of the tea clipper Cutty Sark
is named after the character.
form of cuttit, from Early Middle English cutte, kutte, cute "ugly") is "short" or "stumpy".
Sark or serk (from Old English
serc; Old Norse
serk) is a "shift", "chemise", or "shirt
".
The earliest recorded literary usage of the term cutty sark (as opposed to older usage of the two separate words) is by Dougal Graham
in c.
1779 (the year of his death): "A cutty sark of guide harn sheet, My mitter he pe spin, mattam."
, the drunken Tam, riding home on his horse, happens upon a witch
es' ceilidh
. Among the dancing figures is a particularly beautiful young witch named Nannie (Scots pet-form
of Anna), "ae winsome wench and wawlie" (line 164). She is wearing a harn (linen
) sark (nightshirt) which fitted her as a child (a "lassie") but is now rather too short for her:
Tam is so enthralled by the erotic spectacle that he cannot contain himself and yells out "Weel done, Cutty-sark!" (line 189). The witches are now alerted to his presence and pursue him. Tam heads for the River Doon, because, according to folklore, witches cannot cross running water. He makes it across the bridge to safety, but not before Nannie, the "Cutty-sark", has torn the tail from his horse.
The poem ends, ironically, with a mock warning to all men of the devilish consequences of thinking about scantily-clad females.
The popularity of this poem was such that the phrase Well done, Cutty-sark! entered the English language
via Scottish English
as an exclamation similar to "Bravo!"
Literary allusions to the original Cutty-sark abound. In Ulysses
, James Joyce
writes: "Laughing witches in red cutty sarks ride through the air on broom sticks" (p. 695).
Scots language
Scots is the Germanic language variety spoken in Lowland Scotland and parts of Ulster . It is sometimes called Lowland Scots to distinguish it from Scottish Gaelic, the Celtic language variety spoken in most of the western Highlands and in the Hebrides.Since there are no universally accepted...
for "short chemise
Chemise
The term chemise or shift can refer to the classic smock, or else can refer to certain modern types of women's undergarments and dresses...
" or "short undergarment
Undergarment
Undergarments or underwear are clothes worn under other clothes, often next to the skin. They keep outer garments from being soiled by bodily secretions and discharges, shape the body, and provide support for parts of it. In cold weather, long underwear is sometimes worn to provide additional...
".
Hyphenated, Cutty-sark was a nickname given to the witch Nannie Dee, a fictional character created by Robert Burns
Robert Burns
Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide...
in his Tam o' Shanter
Tam o' Shanter (Burns poem)
"Tam o' Shanter" is a poem written by the Scottish poet Robert Burns in 1790. Many consider it to be one of the best examples of the narrative poem in modern European literature....
, after the garment she wore. The figurehead of the tea clipper Cutty Sark
Cutty Sark
The Cutty Sark is a clipper ship. Built in 1869, she served as a merchant vessel , and then as a training ship until being put on public display in 1954...
is named after the character.
Etymology
Cutty or cuttie (the diminutiveDiminutive
In language structure, a diminutive, or diminutive form , is a formation of a word used to convey a slight degree of the root meaning, smallness of the object or quality named, encapsulation, intimacy, or endearment...
form of cuttit, from Early Middle English cutte, kutte, cute "ugly") is "short" or "stumpy".
Sark or serk (from Old English
Old English language
Old English or Anglo-Saxon is an early form of the English language that was spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons and their descendants in parts of what are now England and southeastern Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century...
serc; Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
serk) is a "shift", "chemise", or "shirt
Shirt
A shirt is a cloth garment for the upper body. Originally an undergarment worn exclusively by men, it has become, in American English, a catch-all term for almost any garment other than outerwear such as sweaters, coats, jackets, or undergarments such as bras, vests or base layers...
".
The earliest recorded literary usage of the term cutty sark (as opposed to older usage of the two separate words) is by Dougal Graham
Dougal Graham
Dougal Graham, born in the Raploch, Stirlingshire, Scotland, around 1724 and died in 1779, became the skellat bellman of Glasgow at some time around 1770. In addition he was a prolific author of Scottish chapbooks and provides our best prose examples of mid 18th century vernacular Scots.. In his...
in c.
Circa
Circa , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
1779 (the year of his death): "A cutty sark of guide harn sheet, My mitter he pe spin, mattam."
Erotically beautiful witch
In Burns' 1791 poem Tam o' ShanterTam o' Shanter (Burns poem)
"Tam o' Shanter" is a poem written by the Scottish poet Robert Burns in 1790. Many consider it to be one of the best examples of the narrative poem in modern European literature....
, the drunken Tam, riding home on his horse, happens upon a witch
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
es' ceilidh
Céilidh
In modern usage, a céilidh or ceilidh is a traditional Gaelic social gathering, which usually involves playing Gaelic folk music and dancing. It originated in Ireland, but is now common throughout the Irish and Scottish diasporas...
. Among the dancing figures is a particularly beautiful young witch named Nannie (Scots pet-form
Hypocoristic
A hypocorism is a shorter form of a word or given name, for example, when used in more intimate situations as a nickname or term of endearment.- Derivation :Hypocorisms are often generated as:...
of Anna), "ae winsome wench and wawlie" (line 164). She is wearing a harn (linen
Linen
Linen is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant, Linum usitatissimum. Linen is labor-intensive to manufacture, but when it is made into garments, it is valued for its exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather....
) sark (nightshirt) which fitted her as a child (a "lassie") but is now rather too short for her:
- Her cutty sark, o' PaisleyPaisleyPaisley is the largest town in the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland and serves as the administrative centre for the Renfrewshire council area...
harn, - That while a lassie she had worn,
- In longtitude tho' sorely scanty,
- It was her best, and she was vauntie.
- Ah! little kend thy reverend grannie
- That sark she coft for her wee Nannie
- Wi' twa pund ScotsPound ScotsThe pound Scots was the national unit of currency in the Kingdom of Scotland before the country entered into political and currency union with the Kingdom of England in 1707 . It was introduced by David I, in the 12th century, on the model of English and French money, divided into 20 shillings...
('twas a' her riches) - Wad ever graced a dance of witches! (lines 171ff)
- lassie, "girl", vauntie, "joyous, boasting"; kend, "knew"; coft, "bought"; twa, "two".
Tam is so enthralled by the erotic spectacle that he cannot contain himself and yells out "Weel done, Cutty-sark!" (line 189). The witches are now alerted to his presence and pursue him. Tam heads for the River Doon, because, according to folklore, witches cannot cross running water. He makes it across the bridge to safety, but not before Nannie, the "Cutty-sark", has torn the tail from his horse.
The poem ends, ironically, with a mock warning to all men of the devilish consequences of thinking about scantily-clad females.
The popularity of this poem was such that the phrase Well done, Cutty-sark! entered the English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
via Scottish English
Scottish English
Scottish English refers to the varieties of English spoken in Scotland. It may or may not be considered distinct from the Scots language. It is always considered distinct from Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic language....
as an exclamation similar to "Bravo!"
Literary allusions to the original Cutty-sark abound. In Ulysses
Ulysses (novel)
Ulysses is a novel by the Irish author James Joyce. It was first serialised in parts in the American journal The Little Review from March 1918 to December 1920, and then published in its entirety by Sylvia Beach on 2 February 1922, in Paris. One of the most important works of Modernist literature,...
, James Joyce
James Joyce
James Augustine Aloysius Joyce was an Irish novelist and poet, considered to be one of the most influential writers in the modernist avant-garde of the early 20th century...
writes: "Laughing witches in red cutty sarks ride through the air on broom sticks" (p. 695).
See also
- Cuttie-stoolCuttie-stoolA cuttie-stool, or cutty-stool , was a type of three-legged chair used in Scotland. It was a short stool, often having a round seat on the top, but the word also designates a larger piece of furniture associated with public penance in church.Such stools were often used for milking and domestic...