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John o' Groat
with his two brothers Malcolm and Gavin, came from Holland in
the reign of James IV. of Scotland, and purchased the lands of Warse
and Dungisbay. In process of time their families increased, and there
came to be eight families of the same name.They lived together
amicably, and met once a year in the original house; but on one
occasion a question of precedency arose, who was to go out first, and
who was to take the head of the table.. John o' Groat promised them the
next time they came he would contrive to satisfy them all. Accordingly
he built an eight-sided room, with a door and window in each side, and
placed a round oak table in the room. This building went ever after
with the name of John o' Groat's House. The site of this house is the
Berubium of Ptolemy, in the vicinity of Duncansby Head.
Hear, land o'cakes and brither Scots,
Frae Maidenkirk to Johnny Groat's ...
A chield's amang you takin' notes.
And, faith, he'll prent it.
Burns: Captain Grose.
Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894 More on John o' Groat from Infoplease:
- John o' Groat - John o' Groat with his two brothers Malcolm and Gavin, came from Holland in the reign of James ...
- O'Groat - O'Groat (See John O' Groat.) Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894 ...
- Groat - Groat From John o' Groat's house to the Land's End. From Dan to Beersheba, from one end ...
- Ceca to Mecca - Ceca to Mecca (From). From one end of the world to the other; from pillar to post. It is a Spanish ...
- Dan - Dan A title of honour, common with the old poets, as Dan Phoebus, Dan Cupid, Dan Neptune, Dan ...
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