In fishing communities many words were taboo and would curse ship and crew if said aloud. Here are some “safe” alternatives:
keys: SNUTTLES
sheep: BLITTER
milk: SKUBBA
church: MUNGER-HOUSE
pig: MUDVITE
cat: FOODIN
knife: RAGGER
eel: SMONGIE
crab: SNIFFLE
For instance, if a fisher or a gutter accidentally said “gie tae me the knife” and didn’t call it a “ragger”, the knife had to immediately be thrown into the sea.
