Jock Tamson's Bairns
Posted by Kit on August 08, 2003
In Reply to: Jock Tamson's Bairns posted by ESC on August 08, 2003
: : 'We're all Jock Tamson's bairns' is a popular saying in Scotland and indeed is known in other parts of the world. The Reverend John Thomson {Jock Tamson} was a much-loved minister of Duddingston Kirk, Edinburgh from 1805 to 1840. He called the members of his congregation 'ma bairns' {my children}and this resulted in folk saying 'we're all Jock Tamson's bairns' which gave a sense of belonging to a small but special group. Nowadays, the phrase is often used to indicate we're all the same under the skin.
: That's a keeper.
'John Thomson' or 'John Thompson' is also an old English euphemism for the penis. (!!!)
- Jock Tamson's Bairns Kit 09/August/03