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

Not, however, before poor Reginald was stabbed in the right chest with a skean dhu, the little dagger that kilted Highlanders wear in their right stocking.

From Project Gutenberg

Beside it was a Skean Dhu sheath and a broken Buckfast tonic wine bottle.

From BBC

Ye'll pe ken there's twa kinds o' pluid in te human body—a red and a plack: te ane comes frae flesh wounds o' te skean dhu, when it's bashfu, and winna gang far ben; and te other follows te plow o' te determined dirk, when it seeks te habitation o' life in te heart itsel.

From Project Gutenberg

Angus, in short, although they had made him a clergyman, would, it was believed by those who knew him, have carried his skean dhu with him to the pulpit.

From Project Gutenberg

I parted with Eliza Stewart; and we never met again, as, in a few days afterwards, I left the island; and with this event terminated all connecting circumstances on my part with "The Skean Dhu."

From Project Gutenberg