tushker

English

A peat bank with tushker

Alternative forms

• tushkar
• tuskar

Etymology

Borrowed from Scottish Gaelic tairsgear, toirsgear

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈtʌʃkə(ɹ)/

Noun

tushker (plural tushkers)

1. (Scotland, Shetland) A type of spade, similar to a cascrom, used for cutting peat.
   • 1950, British Council, University of Aberdeen, The Viking Congress: Lerwick, July 1950, Issue 132, page 110,

     […] neighbour's and measure the distance of his own by throwing his tushker or peat spade.

   • 1975, School of Scottish Studies, Edinburgh University, Tocher: Tales, Songs, Tradition, Issues 17-23; Issues 25-29, page 38,

     I mind [my father] tellin me a story: he wis a young fellow, and he was playin wi a tushker in the burn, cuttin peats, an they were an old man 'at cam up.

   • 2014, Marsali Taylor, Death on a Longship, unnumbered page,

     'I'm no' holding you back?' I asked, looking at the tushker propped by the door.

     'Lass, the peats'll keep. Come you in aboot.'