Samuel Johnson famously defined oats as "a grain which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people." Obviously, the famous lexicographer was no fan of stodgy oatmeal. What is just as obvious -- at least to lexicographers -- is that the Scottish love their porridge. How can you tell? Look at how many oatmeal synonyms come from Scottish-speakers.

It's easy to understand how the Scottish came to call oatmeal "aitmeal," but do you know where the Scottish havermeal comes from? Haver is another name for oat, and havermeal is another name for oatmeal.

Even if you love oatmeal, drammock may give you pause. That word, from a Scottish Gaelic term meaning "foul mixture," names the unappetizing combination of raw oatmeal mixed with cold water; Scottish-speakers also use drammock to refer to any unpalatable mixture.

Of course, the Scottish aren't the only oatmeal-eaters out there. Both the Irish and the Scottish breakfast on brochan, the British enjoy a bowl of skilligalee, and anywhere oats are found, you can find folks serving up burgoo.

How about haggis? The Scottish mix of oatmeal and animal entrails? (Robert Burns wrote a poem on it!)

Odd, though, that the best known oatmeal makers use a Quaker for their symbol. (I don't think there's any Quakers in Scotland!) The founder of Quaker Oats thought a picture of a Quaker man was the symbol of manly strength and purity he was looking for. tjoeb};>