LL-L: "Diminutives" LOWLANDS-L, 30.JUN.2001 (01) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 30.JUN.2001 (01) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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From: Thomas <t.mcrae at uq.net.au>
Subject: LL-L: "Diminutives" LOWLANDS-L, 29.JUN.2001 (01) [E]

Andrys Onsman asked....
> And Tom,  the diminutive "Giftie", I can't see it meaning "the little
> gift." What's going on there?
It is a quote from Robert Burns' poem 'To A Louse' which commemorates one
he
saw crawling up the dress of a stuck up lady at church. It continues 'It
wad
frae many a blunder free us, or foolish notion.' I write from memory so
this
is not word perfect.
My interpretation is that 'The Giftie' is a reference to God, wonder what
our real experts can tell us?

Regards
Tom
Tom Mc Rae
Brisbane Australia
"Oh wid some power the Giftie gie us
Tae see oorselves as ithers see us"
Robert Burns--

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