Sgian-dubh
A sgian-dubh (/ˌskiːən ˈduː/ skee-ən-DOO; Scottish Gaelic pronunciation: [s̪kʲənˈt̪u]) is a small, single-edged knife worn as part of traditional Scottish Highland dress. Originally used for eating and preparing fruit, meat, and cutting bread and cheese, as well as for other more general day-to-day uses such as cutting material and protection, it is now worn as part of traditional Scottish dress tucked into the top of the kilt hose with only the upper portion of the hilt visible. The sgian-dubh is normally worn on the same side as the dominant hand.
Etymology and spelling
[edit]The name comes from the Scottish Gaelic sgian-dubh, (Scottish Gaelic: sgian, meaning knife). Although the primary meaning of dubh is 'black', it also has the secondary meaning of 'hidden'.[1] Other spellings are found in English, including "skene-dhu" and "skean-dhu".[2]
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Legality
[edit]The wearing of the sgian-dubh is sometimes banned for security concerns. For example, they were banned from a school dance in Scotland,[3] and initially banned for the June 2014 celebration of the Battle of Bannockburn.[4]
Air travellers are sometimes required by airport security to put sgian-dubh in their checked baggage.[5][6][7]
A Montreal bagpiper received a ticket from police for wearing his sgian-dubh in public. Police gave Jeff McCarthy a $221 ticket for sporting it in his kilt hose while performing at the McGill University convocation ceremony on 2 November 2016.[8] McCarthy immediately contested the fine and after some delay the ticket was cancelled by The City of Montreal in May 2018, and his knife was returned.[9]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Am Faclair Beag". Retrieved 1 January 2024.
- ^ "skene1" Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd edition, 1989. [1] (subscription required).
- ^ "Top private school bans sgian-dubhs ahead of Christmas dance". The Scotsman. 26 November 2006. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
- ^ "No More 'Sgian Dont!' Its Sgian Dubh at Bannockburn!". clans2014.com. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2014..
- ^ "Travelling with culturally or religiously significant items". www.aviation.govt.nz. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
- ^ "TSA Travel Tips: Travelling with Religious & Cultural Items". www.tsa.gov. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
- ^ "Can I carry sharp-edged religious/cultural regalia/accessories (e.g. Kirpans, Sgian Dhub or Dirks) on my person or in my hand baggage?". Edinburgh Airport. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
- ^ "Montreal bagpiper to contest ticket for carrying ceremonial knife". Montreal Gazette. 19 November 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
- ^ "Ticketed Montreal bagpiper to get ceremonial knife back, have case dropped". Montreal Gazette. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
External links
[edit]
- The Sgian-dubh (Joe D. Huddleston)
- The Skean Dhu (Scotland for Visitors)
- Sgian Dubh Archive (Labhran photographic archive of vintage sgian dubhs)
