When I asked for help naming these mittens, my daughter saw chicken wire in the cable patterning. She instantly went to her computer where she found the binomial nomenclature for chicken, “Gallus gallus”. (Yes, she is a science nerd.) So, we now have a pattern named for that most revered of birds.

Gallus is worked in Schaefer Yarns Heather. The yarn shows the stitch patterning beautifully in its semi-solid colorways. The merino/silk blend makes a warm mitten that is heavenly to wear.

Murdo wrote to tell me that “gallus” has another meaning in Scots:

gallus
(ga·luss) Dialect, chiefly Scot ~adj.

1. self-confident, daring, cheeky.
2. stylish, impressive (esp. Glasgow “He’s pure gallus, by the way”).
3. Orig. derogatory, meaning wild; a rascal; deserving to be hanged (from the gallows).

Taken from Literal Barrage.