I asked for information about the word Scotchman or scotching.

Dr George Redmond of Lepton, historian and expert in genealogy, is researching a new book about words and he threw up the query.

But how about scotch? We all know of scotch eggs, scotch broth and Scotch tape but William Noble knows a different connotation.

“Another meaning of the word ‘scotch’ is a fulcrum or chock or packing under anything that is being levelled up by using a crowbar, for instance. I learnt this word from my father when we were doing some quarrying when I was a boy almost 60 years ago.”

Hope it helps, George.