Anyone know what a Shalt/Chalt is?

Post by **Jean Jeanie** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 6:14 pm

I'm reading a transcipt from 1837 and there is one word (at the moment) I can't understand.

It says "Her husband was riding on a shalt/chalt" The "halt" is very clear. I'm leaning very much towards the spelling being "shalt" going from other words used in the document.

I've looked here http://www.dsl.ac.uk/dsl/ but can't find anything.

Anyone any ideas??

Best wises
Jean

Later:- It is definitely "shalt" The word appears again and is very clear

Rach · Post by **Rach** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 7:53 pm

Well, Jean, I have been dusting down my 10 commandments which was pretty much what came up when I googled 'shalt' and 'riding on a shalt'! Then I tried 'shelt' and found 'shelt or shelty - a shetland pony' on horse website.
Not knowing what the trancription is about I don't suppose that his occupation gives any clues?

Rae

Falkyrn · Post by **Falkyrn** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 8:41 pm

There are two entries in the DSL which would make sense if a shalt was a sheltie or pony

The men generally set out with shalt and float, taking a scythe as well.

and

The shalt wi’ mickle skill Had reached the riggin o’ the hill.

Falkyrn · Post by **Falkyrn** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 8:46 pm

A little further reading unearths that a shalt is a Shetland Pony in this context

SHELTIE, adj., n. Also shelty, †scheltie, -y (Sc. 1727 D. De Foe Tour (1742) IV. 294), †shealty (Abd. 1749 Abd. Journal (30 May)), shiltie (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl,), -y; shalt ie, -y, shawltie (Abd. 1884 D. Grant Lays 9); sholtie (Ork.); and reduced forms shelt (Abd. 1826 D. Anderson Poems 60), shilt, shalt , shault (Abd. 1928 Abd. Book-Lover VI. 13), shawlt, sholt (Ork.), shult (Abd.). [ˈʃɛlt(i); Abd. ˈʃɑlt(i), ˈʃʌlt(i), Ork. ˈʃɔlt(i)] I. adj. Belonging to or characteristic of Shetland. Rare.

Post by **Jean Jeanie** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 9:16 pm

Hi Rae and Falkryn

You are so clever

Further on in the document I read that he had stabled the "shalt" and I presumed it was a horse of sorts.

I would never have thought about a Shetland Pony.

Many thanks

Best wishes
Jean