Quote Originally Posted by Lachlan09 View Post
Well, if they kept it in their genes, there wouldn't be Scots today !
very clever...

We grew up with the understanding that "Scotch" referred to the malted beverage made exclusively in Scotland. "Scots" was the language that was somewhere between English and Gaelic. "Scottish" was the label for all things made in, or imported from, Scotland (including the inhabitants). We never used "scots-irish" except in reference to things or people from parts of Northern Ireland, or referred to anything or anyone from Scotland as "Scotch" - it was understood to be incorrect and inappropriate for common usage.

This goes back over 40 years in our family, who have been proud of their Scottish ancestors, just as they are proud of their American, English, French, Portuguese, and Native American ancestors... I'm not Scottish, just an American who's comfortable with his ancestry, and delight in all the positive aspects that my assorted cultural connections bring!