Note 114a — Chapter VIII · THE ARCHÆOLOGY OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD.

An old Lincolnshire term for a male elf is “Tom-tut,” which may be a corruption of Tom-cat. A person in a rage is said to be “quite a Tom-tut,” or spitfire, like a cat spitting. In connection with “shag,” we may add that there is a sea bird frequenting some of our coasts called a “Black-shag.” Another explanation of Tab-shag, which has been suggested is that “Tab” is another word for turf sods, and sods used to be cut on the moor for fuel.