skean dhu

[ thoo, doo ]

noun

1. a small knife tucked into or worn against the top of a stocking in the full dress of Highland Scottish males.

skean-dhu

/ ˈskiːn-; ˈskiːənˈduː /

noun

1. a variant of sgian-dhu

Word History and Origins

Origin of skean dhu¹

First recorded in 1810–20, skean dhu is from Scots Gaelic sgian dhubh literally, “black skean”

Example Sentences

A wee bit clamsheuchar wi' my Lochaper axe, or a brog wi' my skean-dhu, will make them quate aneuch, my letty.

From Project Gutenberg

Skean-dhu, a small dirk which a Highlander wears in his stocking.

From Project Gutenberg