[35]
After all, there is, it seems, a Scottish word which answers to _Askepot_ to a hair. See Jamieson's _Dictionary_, where the reader will find _Ashiepattle_ as used in Shetland for a 'neglected child'; and not in Shetland alone, but in Ayrshire, _Ashypet_, an adjective, or rather a substantive degraded to do the dirty work of an adjective, 'one employed in the lowest kitchen work'. See too the quotation, 'when I reached Mrs. Damask's house she was gone to bed, and nobody to let me in, dripping wet as I was, but an _ashypet_ lassy, that helps her for a servant.'--_Steamboat_, p. 259. So again _Assiepet_, substantive 'a dirty little creature, one that is constantly soiled with _ass_ or ashes'.
[36]
The Sagas contain many instances of Norsemen who sat thus idly over the fire, and were thence called _Kolbitr_, _coalbiters_, but who afterwards became mighty men.