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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FERNTICKLE, n. Also fairntickle (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 202), -teckle, fairentikkel (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.); farntickle (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.); ferni(e) (ferny-, fairni-, fairny-)tickle; fern(i)ticle; ferin(g)- (Dmf. 1826 A. Cunningham Paul Jones I. v., ix.). A freckle (w.Sc. 1741 A. McDonald Galick Vocab. 25). Also in Eng. dial. [′fɛrntɪkəl I., n.Sc., Ags., Arg., Gall., ′fɑrn- Uls., ′fɛrnɪ- em., wm.Sc., Kcb., Dmf., s.Sc.]Sc. 1846 Anon. Muckomachy 46:
Yea, ilka plouk and fernitickle.Uls. 1880 Proverb in Patterson Gl.:
The farntickles niver sayd a word but one, that they wouldn't light on a din skin.Sc. 1899 Sc. N. & Q. XII. 155:
The May-Day observance of washing the face with dew, by which freckles and ferntickles were supposed to be removed.Dmf. 1925 Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. 25:
Ferniticle never sat on a dun skin.m.Sc. 1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood xvi.:
Yon body wi' the fernietickles and the bleary een.ne.Sc. 1986 Peter Mowatt in Joy Hendry Chapman 43-4 157:
Bill Murray intervened, for devilment more than good intention. "Dinna taraneze the loon. That's just fern-tickles comin oot wi the sun."

Hence ppl.adj. fern(ferny-)tickled, freckled. Gen.Sc. Also fig. oft-repeated, quasi weather-beaten, much aired.Sc. 1706 Blythesome Wedding in J. Watson Choice Coll. i. 9:
And there will be fairntickl'd Hew.Edb. 1772 Edb. Ev. Courant (12 Aug.):
About the age of 22, between fair and brown complexion, fairn-tickled, her face somewhat foul, and small plooks about the brow.Sc. 1837 Tait's Mag. (June) 373:
I'll be sworn, reddish haired, and a thought fairny-tickled.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xxxv.:
The fairntickled damsel, wha happened to be in oor band-win.Abd. 1917 C. Murray Sough o' War 33:
A roch reid-heidit bairn, wi' ferny-tickled nose.Tyr. 1931 Northern Whig (17 Dec.) 10:
Wilson is a bit gurly, but he has a farn-tickled, sonsy daughter.Ags. 1947 J. B. Salmond Toby Jug ix.:
“That's a gey fern-tickled story now,” said Sandy.