“DEOCH AN DORUIS”

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 13 February 1926, Page 11

“DEOCH AN DORUIS”

HERE was recently sold at Ayr a Burns I relic, the stirrup cup used by Tam o’ JL Shanter, which, being intended for the Burns Memorial, is doubly interesting. It may have.been a similar cup which the poet refers to in his poem beginning “Go, fetch to me a pint o’ wine, And fill it in a silver lassie.” Tassie, says a writer in the Weekly Scotsman, was an old Scottish name for a drinking cup, from the French tasse, a cup. This cup held about a pint. The offer of the stirrup cup was the parting rite of ancient Scottish hospitality. It was customary both in private houses and in inns or public-houses (or change-houses as they were designated). At the latter this parting cup was brought to the departing guest, generally mounted, by the landlord. There was no charge for it. in the reckoning. In the family of Scott of Thirlestane, in Roxburghshire, an heirloom existed, a

OLD SCOTTISH HOSPITALITY

STIRRUP CUP AT PARTING

stirrup cup, shaped like a jack-boot. It was obligatory for visitors to empty it before departure. If the name was Scott-the obligation was double. The stirrup cup was named the deoch and doruis, and its widespread use in ancient times had origin in the convivial habits thc-n prevailing. It was distinctly understood that this parting cup must be drunk either standing or when on horseback. An anecdote is told about the application of this custom by a bailie of Forfar—in a case in. which an ale wife’s “peck of malt,” set out to cool, was drunk by a neighbour’s cow, the owner of which was sued for the value of the “browst.” The pursuer in evidence said she supposed the cow would take its draught while standing on its feet. The bailie, on this admission, solemnly adjudged the cow’s drink to be deoch and doruis —a stirrup cup/.for which no charge could be made without violating the ancient hospitality of Scotland.