The curse of Scotland
Preserved but no longer current.
The nine of dia- monds. It may refer to the arms of Dalrymple, Earl of Stair — viz. or, on a saltire argent, nine lozenges of the first. The earl was justly held in abhorrence for the massacre of Glencoe, and he was also detested in Scotland for his share in bringing about the Union with England in 1707.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “The curse of Scotland” mean?
The nine of dia- monds. It may refer to the arms of Dalrymple, Earl of Stair — viz. or, on a saltire argent, nine lozenges of the first. The earl was justly held in abhorrence for the massacre of Glencoe, and he was also detested in Scotland for his share in bringing about the Union with England in 1707.
Is “The curse of Scotland” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.