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Original poster

What is the Scottish term for a laat lammetjie?

17 replies

TressiliansStone · 02/09/2023 21:00

Help me out, o clever clogs. I'm sure there will be such a term... and I'm sure some MNer will know it...

(Laat lammetjie is literally "late lamb"; it's used of a child born a long time after its siblings.)

OP posts:
madamsapple · 02/09/2023 21:33

a wee surprise?

GeorgeSpeaks · 02/09/2023 21:52

In England this would be described as an 'accident' 😆

I love the phrase 'late lamb's though. Is this Dutch?

Kastri · 02/09/2023 22:17

Where I am in Scotland,we say 'late baby.'

Original poster
TressiliansStone · 02/09/2023 22:21

It's a wonderful phrase! I now can't think of laat lammetjies as anything but laat lammetjies.

Yes, Afrikaans, so a form of Dutch. But it gets used by South African English speakers because, well, how could you better that?

OP posts:
Photio · 02/09/2023 22:23

Tail end Charlie

Sommerled · 02/09/2023 22:24

Afterthought

fourelementary · 02/09/2023 22:25

A surprise!

LadyMcLadyface · 02/09/2023 22:52

(Scottish here) I've always heard this referred to as a 'surprise baby'!

StickyProblem · 02/09/2023 22:53

An autumn crocus Flowers

Lehenaghmore · 02/09/2023 22:56

In Irish, rather graphically, it’s an expression that translates as ‘the shakings of the sack.’

AdaColeman · 02/09/2023 23:09

A wee surprise!

In Swedish the term is Sladdbarn, not as romantic as the Finnish iltatähti or Evening Star!

BeakerCupSaucerEggs · 02/09/2023 23:15

As a laat lammetjie myself, it made me smile to see this phrase.

Original poster
TressiliansStone · 03/09/2023 10:25

Evening Star is lovely!

I'm sort of reassured that you're all coming up with the same English-language terms I did, and it's not just my memory failing. But they seem mundane in comparison – or even slightly negative: a surprise might not be wanted.

This is for a family-history piece, but I can just rephrase to avoid the problem.

@StickyProblem may I ask where Autumn Crocus comes from? Is that your own family's phrase, or more widely used?

OP posts:
Doormatnomore · 03/09/2023 10:28

I don’t know if it’s just my family but I know one uncle was a “change of life baby” so when she thought it was menopause.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 03/09/2023 10:29

BeakerCupSaucerEggs · 02/09/2023 23:15

As a laat lammetjie myself, it made me smile to see this phrase.

Me too.

I'm the child that put them off having any more.

GetDownkeith · 03/09/2023 10:39

I say I was an accident my mum says a pleasant surprise.

BorrowedThyme · 03/09/2023 10:41

I've heard such babies referred to as " a PS"

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