Annotation:Whummel Bore (1) (The)

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X:1 T:Whummel Bore [1], The M:C L:1/8 R:Reel B:Davie’s Caledonian Repository (Aberdeen, 1829-30, p. 36) Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:Bb F|~B2 dB ~B2 fB|~B2 bg fedc|~B2 dB ~B2 gB|AcFA B3:| f|bB B,2 bB(ba)|gBG,2 gG(gf)|ecdB cABb|agf=e f2 fa| bBAB GBEB|gc=Bc AcFA|BFdB fdbg|afga b2B||

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WHUMMEL BORE [1], THE. Scottish, Reel (whole time). B Flat Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB. A Wummle, whummil, or several variant spellings, is Scots dialect for a tool for drilling holes, an auger. A whummil bore is a hole made by a drill. A "whummle-bore" was also Scots and English dialect denoting a cleft-palate.

"Whummil Bore" is also the name of a Child Ballad (No. 27), in which the servant of the King tells of the only time he has seen a certain lady nude. He looked at her through a small hole while her maids were dressing her. One version of the ballad begins:

Seven lang years I hae served the king,
Refrain:
Fa fa fa fa lilly

And I never got a sight of his daughter but ane.
Refrain:
With my glimpy, glimpy, glimpy eedle,
Lillum too tee a ta too a tee a ta a tally

I saw her thro a whummil bore,
And I neer got a sight of her no more.

Twa was putting on her gown,
And ten was putting pins therein.

Twa was putting on her shoon,
And twa was buckling them again.

Five was combing down her hair,
And I never got a sight of her nae mair.

Her neck and breast was like the snow,
Then from the bore I was forced to go.

See "Whummel Bore (2) (The)" for an air as the vehicle for the words.