quaich
noun

- a small shallow drinking cup, usually with two handles

- a traditional shallow, two-handled cup of Scottish origin symbolizing friendship, originally used to toast the arrival or departure of a visitor

Collins Dictionary / Wiktionary

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WORD ORIGIN

The name ‘quaich’ is from cuach, the Gaelic word for cup. Its ancestor was the scallop shell, in which drams of whisky were taken. Quaichs were traditionally made out of wood, but in the 17th century craftsmen began to make them out of silver.

One of the earliest known references to the quaich dates back to 1589 when King James VI of Scotland is said to have given one to Anne of Denmark as a wedding gift. It is thought that this gifting has contributed to the quaich also being called a “Loving Cup”.

Bonnie Prince Charlie was also said to have a quaich as part of an ornately decorated sterling silver canteen set, which he carried with him during his travels, including at the Battle of Culloden in 1745. His quaich was said to have a glass bottom so that he could keep an eye on his enemies.

Over the years, the quaich has also evolved as a toasting cup, lending to yet another name, the “Cup of Friendship”. It has been used as a common toasting cup to celebrate visitors, weddings, christenings, family and friends.

The National Museums of Scotland has fine examples of all of these in their “Quaich Collection”.

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SCOTLAND & BURNS - KNOWLEDGE QUIZ

How many of the following 10 questions can you answer? (scroll down further for hints and answers)

1. In Roman times, what was the area now known as Scotland called?

2. What sort of creature did Burns write a Scots-language poem about in 1785?

3. Which world famous Scots-language poem, set to the tune of a traditional folk song, was written by Burns in 1788?

4. What’s the national animal of Scotland?

5. Which playing card has the nickname ‘The Curse of Scotland’?

6. What’s the well known Scots word for the last day of the year?

7. What unit is used informally to mean a small amount of Scotch whisky?

8. A Robert Burns’ poem inspired the title of which 1937 novel?

9. When asked to name the lyric that had had the greatest impact on his life, which famous musician chose “A Red, Red Rose” written by Burns in 1794?

10. Which American fashion designer is a great, great, great nephew of Robert Burns?

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HINTS: Auld Lang Syne - Bob Dylan - Caledonia - Dram - Hogmanay - Mouse - Nine of Diamonds - “Of Mice and Men” (John Steinbeck) - Tommy Hilfiger - Unicorn

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ANSWERS

Auld Lang Syne - Bob Dylan  - Dram - Hogmanay - Mouse - Nine of Diamonds - “Of Mice and Men” (John Steinbeck) - Tommy Hilfiger - Unicorn

1. In Roman times, what was the area now known as Scotland called? - Caledonia

2. What sort of creature did Burns write a Scots-language poem about in 1785? - Mouse

3. Which world famous Scots-language poem, set to the tune of a traditional folk song, was written by Burns in 1788? - Auld Lang Syne

4. What’s the national animal of Scotland? - Unicorn

5. Which playing card has the nickname ‘The Curse of Scotland’? - Nine of Diamonds

6. What’s the well known Scots word for the last day of the year? - Hogmanay

7. What unit is used informally to mean a small amount of Scotch whisky? - Dram

8. A Robert Burns’ poem inspired the title of which 1937 novel? - “Of Mice and Men” (John Steinbeck)

9. When asked to name the lyric that had had the greatest impact on his life, which famous musician chose “A Red, Red Rose” written by Burns in 1794? - Bob Dylan

10. Which American fashion designer is a great, great, great nephew of Robert Burns? - Tommy Hilfiger

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SYNONYMS

- friendship

affability, affection, affectionateness, affinity, amity, at-oneness, attachment, banding together, belonging, bonhomie, bromance, brotherhood, brotherliness, brotherly love, camaraderie, chumminess, comity, communion, companionship, comradeliness, comradery, comradeship, devotedness, devotion, esprit de corps, fellow feeling, fellowship, fraternity, goodwill, hitting it off, hospitality, kinship, loyalty, male bonding, meeting of minds, mutual affection (fondness), mutual liking (respect, support), neighbourliness, partnership, same wavelength, sisterhood, spiritual union, team spirit, togetherness, unanimity, warm-heartedness, warm feelings (fellowship)

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SMUGGLE OWAD into an English conversation, say something like:

“The 25th of January is ‘Burns Night’ and a great opportunity to ask a Scot how to pronounce the word QUAICH."

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HERZLICHEN DANK to all readers helping me keep OWAD alive with single or monthly donations at:

https://donorbox.org/please-become-a-friend-of-owad-3

and,

Paul Smith, IBAN: DE75 7316 0000 0002 5477 40