The Proverbs of Scotland

One specimen of a bad article is sufficient.

Ae swallow disna mak a summer.

Ae word before is worth twa behint.

Ae year a nurse and seven years a daw.

Does this very old proverb mean, that if a woman nurses for one year, it takes seven years to recover from the effects of it? Ray has a very ungallant note on the English version of this: "Because, feeding well and doing little, she becomes liquorish, and gets a habit of idleness."

A' fails that fools think.

A fa'ing maister maks a standin' man.

A fair maid tocherless will get mair wooers than husbands.

A fair offer is nae cause o' feud.

A' fellows, Jock and the laird.

"Spoken when unworthy fellows intrude themselves into the company of their betters."--Kelly.

A fey man and a cursour fearna the deil.

Meaning literally, that a predestined man and a war-horse (or stallion, as the word "cursour" more immediately implies)