Scottish word of the day: Mawkit

Published on 16/08/2012 16:17

Mawkit is generally used as a description for something dirty. Really dirty. We’re talking covered from head-to-toe in mud, rather than a wee bit of dust.

Readers of a slightly squeamish disposition may want to look away at this point, as the origin of this term isn’t particularly pleasant.

The word derives from the word mawk, (which came to Scots from Old Norse via Middle English,) meaning a maggot; the idea being that mawkit is used to describe something extremely filthy.

The terminology is especially apt when you consider where maggots are usually found – on rotting corpses, for instance.

Naturally, it’s likely that the word has evolved in usage and meaning to encompass a wider range of dirtiness.