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ghaist

Dialect
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A Scots dialect term for a ghost or spirit, deeply rooted in Scottish folklore and ballad tradition; in poetry, it evokes the supernatural, ancestral memory, the uncanny, and the haunting presence of the dead in the landscape of the living.

Detailed Definition
The term 'ghaist' in Scots refers to a ghost or apparition, commonly associated with the supernatural. In the context of the poem, it symbolizes the haunting presence of lost love and the emotional turmoil experienced by the speaker, reflecting themes of love and loss.
Example
Example in poetry:
"I saw my Jamie's ghaist—I cou'dna think it he" (Scots for 'ghost'); "The ghaist of the old castle" (supernatural); "A ghaist walked the moor at night" (folklore); "She feared the ghaist of her dead love" (ballad); "The ghaist of memory haunts me still" (metaphorical)
Additional Notes
The appearance of the 'ghaist' emphasizes the theme of loss and the lingering memories of the deceased.; Found in the poem, Auld Robin Gray by Lady Anne Lindsay
Also Known As
phantom specter apparition
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