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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

DOT, n.², v.² Also dote. Sc. usages.

1. n.

(1) “A person of small stature” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 223; Bnff.², Abd.², Abd.⁹ 1940; Sh., Bnff., Edb., wm.Sc. 2000s), also in Eng. dial.; a small animal (Gregor).Edb.⁵ 1940:
A wee dot o' a man.Uls. 1997 Bernard MacLaverty Grace Notes (1998) 187:
Catherine sat beside Mrs Shaw from the Co-op.
'She's a wee dote.'

(2) “The act of walking with short, quick steps” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 222).

2. v. To walk with short, quick steps, gen. used of persons of small stature (Ib. 223; Bnff.², Abd.⁹, Fif.¹⁰, Lnk.¹¹, Kcb.¹⁰ 1940). Often used with aboot. Ppl.adj. dotting.Bnff.⁶ c.1920:
Here's the auld beadle comin dot-dottin doon the road.Per. 1908 R. Ford in Gsw. Ballad Club III. 127:
But still I dotted back an' fore, An' fummel'd aft.Lnk. 1928 G. Blake Paper Money 114:
Can ye no' stop dot-dot-dottin' aboot the hoose like a hen on a hot girdle.Kcb. 1893 S. R. Crockett Stickit Minister, Midsummer Idyll 259:
She had the “birr” and go of twenty in her from the time . . . when she was a dotting wee thing.