'Christiecleek will come to ye'

'This was a word of terror in Scotland for centuries, and was used effectively by mothers to frighten wayward children.

'The famines, wars and "anarchy" of the 14th century caused an outbreak of cannibalism in the Highlands. One of the leaders of a cannibal gang was, inappropriately enough, named Christie, and he used to carry a large iron cleek or hook to drag down his victims. He thus earned the above name. Christie is said to have escaped the law and to have ended his life as a prosperous merchant.'

Source: Scots Proverbs and Rhymes. Selected, compiled and privately published by Forbes MacGregor, 1948.