This was a Border household spirit of the Brownie kind, though rather more eccentric. He is described at length, with the assistance of some rather obscure verses, by William Henderson in Folk-Lore of the Northern Counties (p.256-257). He loved human cheerfulness and the company of children, and his usual seat was on the swinging pot-hook. When this was empty, he used to sit on it and swing himself to and fro, laughing and chuckling at the merriment of the company. He disapproved of any drink stronger than home-brewed ale, and used to cough angrily if strong spirits were drunk. Otherwise he was a convivial spirit, though very particular about the cleanliness or neatness of the house and a torment to slovenly kitchen-maids. His cheerfulness was a great credit to him, since he suffered from perpetual toothache. Henderson describes him with great minuteness:

His general appearance was that of a grisly old man, with short, crooked legs, while a long tail assisted him in keeping his seat on the crook. Sometimes he appeared in a grey mantle, with the remains of an old 'pirnicap' (night-cap) on his head, drawn down over that side of the face which was troubled with toothache, a constant grievance of his; but he commonly wore a red coat and blue breeches, both garments being made of 'familie woo'.