Huntigowk

"It's huntigowk today"

"Huntigowk?"

"Aye, huntigowk"

"What on earth is huntigowk?"

"You don't know what huntigowk is?"

I continue with my blank stare

"I can't believe we've been together for 24 years and you don't know what huntigowk is. It's April Fool's Day. When you catch someone out you shout 'huntigowk!' It's an old Scots' word."

"I think you're making it up. This is an April Fool's joke isn't it? You're waiting for me to believe you and they you're going to shout 'April Fool' at me."

"Pfft... go and look it up"

So I turned to my Scots Dictionary - bought for me by my wife many years ago precisely because of the number of times I accused her of making up words.

It wasn't in there!

However, before getting too smug, I thought I'd better check the Internet, and sure enough there are plenty of references. It appears I was wrong once again.

I wonder if there's a word for people who think they've outwitted an April Fool when none was being played on them?

While hunting the word in my Scots Dictionary, I did come across 'hochmagandy' though. I asked Maggie if she knew what that meant and she blushed.

You can look that one up yourself.