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Sgian dubh

Ceremonial knife

Sgian dubh

A sgian dubh is a small, single-edged knife worn as part of traditional Scottish Highland dress. It is worn tucked into the top of the kilt hose with the hilt visible.

Sgian dubh

Staghorn sgian dubh
A sgian-dubh being worn on the leg

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. It is worn tucked into the top of the kilt hose with the hilt visible.

Etymology and spelling

Sgian-dubh in Scottish Gaelic means "black knife", from sgian ('knife') and dubh ('black'). The name is derived from the colour of the hilt, usually made of bog-oak.[1] Other spellings are found in English, including skean dhu[2] and skene dhu.[3]

Origins

Portrait by Henry Raeburn of Alasdair Ranaldson MacDonell of Glengarry in 1812

The sgian dubh has been described as originally a dagger that could be concealed under the armpit.[4] It has also been stated that it emerged as part of the revival of highland dress in the early 19th century.[1]

Legality

In Scotland, England and Wales, carrying an offensive weapon is illegal, but can be permitted as part of wearing national costume.[5][6][7][non-primary source needed] Carrying a sgian dubh has sometimes been banned in Britain; for example, they were banned from a school dance in Scotland,[8] and initially banned for the 2014 celebration of the Battle of Bannockburn.[9]

When travelling by air with a sgian dubh, it is prohibited in some countries from having it in the cabin, but it is allowed in checked baggage.[10][11][non-primary source needed]

Piper Jeff McCarthy was fined CA$221 on 2 November 2016 for wearing a sgian dubh in his kilt hose while performing in Montreal, Canada.[12] McCarthy contested the fine, which was cancelled, and his knife was returned.[13]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Blair, Claude (1962). European & American Arms, c. 1100–1850. Virginia: B. T. Batsfords. pp. 15–17. ISBN 978-0-8048-1684-7. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  2. ↑ "Skene dhu". Miriam Webster. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  3. ↑ "skene1" Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd edition, 1989. (subscription required).
  4. ↑ Grancsay, Stephen Vincent (1991). Arms & Armor: Essays From the Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin 1920–1964. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art. pp. 82–83. ISBN 978-0-87099-338-1.
  5. ↑ "Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  6. ↑ "Criminal Justice Act 1988". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  7. ↑ "Offensive Weapons Act 1996". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  8. ↑ "Top private school bans sgian-dubhs ahead of Christmas dance". The Scotsman. 26 November 2006. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  9. ↑ Moffet, Rodger (30 August 2013). "No More 'Sgian Dont!' Its Sgian Dubh at Bannockburn!". clans2014.com. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014..
  10. ↑ "Travelling with culturally or religiously significant items". www.aviation.govt.nz. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  11. ↑ "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.
  12. ↑ "Montreal bagpiper to contest ticket for carrying ceremonial knife". Montreal Gazette. 19 November 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  13. ↑ "Ticketed Montreal bagpiper to get ceremonial knife back, have case dropped". Montreal Gazette. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  • Labhran photographic archive of vintage and antique Scottish sgian dubh