Sc. and north. dial. Forms: 4–6 ȝald, 6 ȝad, ȝaid, 6–7 yawde, 6–9 yawd, 8 yade, 8–9 yad, yode, 8– yaud. [a. ON. jalda (Sw. dial. jälda), poet. word for ‘mare.’]
1. A mare: usually applied to an old mare; also loosely to an old or worn-out horse (associated with JADE).
1500–20. Dunbar, Petit. of Gray Horse, Poems, lxi. refrain. Schir, lett it nevir in toun be tald, That I sould be ane Ȝuillis ȝald!
1641. Brome, Joviall Crew, IV. i. (1652), K j b. Your Yawdes may take cold, and never be good after it.
1709. Queen Anne; or, the Auld Grey Mare, iv. in Jacobite Songs & Ball. (1887), 57. And they hae seized the yaud And tied her head and heel.
1719. D’Urfey, Pills, V. 326. She’s have a Yode to ride out; She’s neither drive the Swine, nor the Plough.
1724. Ramsay, Tea-t. Misc. (1733), I. 8. I have three owsen in a plough Twa good ga’en yads and gear enough.
1816. Scott, Bl. Dwarf, i. Landlord, get us our breakfast, and see an’ get the yauds fed.
1866. Mrs. Lynn Linton, Lizzie Lorton, II. 294. [They] sneered at her as the ‘grey yaud wha’d be better rode wi’ martingal nor snaffle.’
b. Comb., as yaud-stealer; † yaud-swiver, one who commits buggery with a mare.
1508. Dunbar, Flyting, 246. Muttoun dryver, girnall ryver, ȝadswyvar, fowll fell the.
c. 1560. Durham Depos. (Surtees), 60. And yelt Ednam shuld still be his father yawd steiller.
c. attrib. or adj. Of a horse: Worn out.
1500–20. Dunbar, Petit. of Gray Horse, 25, Poems, lxi. Suppois I war ane ald ȝaid aver, Schott furth our clewch to pull the clever.
† 2. A strumpet, whore. Comb. ȝaldson, the ‘son of a whore’; a term of abuse (cf. whoreson).
a. 1400. Morte Arth., 3809. Ȝondire to ȝone ȝaldsones he þat ȝeldes hyme ever,… Be he neuer mo sauede.
1545. Burgh Rec. Stirling (1887), 41. You leid that said Annapill Graheine wes ane freris get and freris yawde.
