ETYMOLOGY OF THE HEATHER. 



Sic sangs as thae, the heather-headed bard 

 Of Scotland ranted as he trod the glebe, 

 And Caledonia's taste thought it nae shame 

 To croon the o'erword. 



A few expressive metaphors taken from the plant 

 are found in our language; e. g., "heather and dub," 

 signifying rough and ready ; "to set the heather on 

 fire," to cause a disturbance ; "to take to the heather," 

 to flee or become an exile. 



Then in northern Scotland we have such names 

 as Hedderwick, Heathcot, Heathery hillock, Heathery 

 gall, Heather cliff, etc. 



The Gaelic name of the plant, fraoch, furnishes 

 such designations as Freuchie, Freugh, Frew, etc. 



