Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FOOL, n. Also fewl; ful (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.). Gen.Sc. forms of Eng. fowl, a bird, one of the domestic breed of poultry. Cf. P.L.D. § 38. Dim. and adj. foolie, fowlie. [fu:l]Sc. 1737 in Scott H. Midlothian xviii. Note:
The Duke of Newcastle having demanded to know with what kind of shot the guard which Porteous commanded had loaded their muskets, was answered naively, “Ow, just sic as ane shoots dukes and fools with.”Rnf. 1835 D. Webster Rhymes 6:
Wild fools beginning to squake.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xix.:
Awat they war a' richt snod, sizeable foolies.Gall. 1877 “Saxon” Gall. Gossip 56:
“Gang and tak' yer meat decently like ither fewls” . . . continued he, shaking his stick at the djeuks.Edb. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick xiii.:
A yaird for keepin fools, an' a deuk-pond.Sh. 1908 Old-Lore Misc. I. vii. 272:
Dunna let da fools truck troo da grice's truss.

Hence (1) fool-fleg, a scarecrow; (2) fooling, fowling; (3) fowlie-, fowloo-bree, chicken broth.(1) Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 60:
Sheu . . . geed i' cloots; sae that sheu was mair like a fool-fleg or a human bothie.(2) Sc. 1732 in Chrons. Atholl and Tullibardine Families II. 387:
Hunting and Fooling in all his Forests.Sc. 1827 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) II. 13:
I howp they've nae fooling-pieces — for they may take us for gulls.(3) ne.Sc. 1828 P. Buchan Ballads I. 264:
I gae him skink and fowlie bree, And ither cordials, twa or three.ne.Sc. 1909 G. Greig Folk-Song, lii.:
With plenty of oatcakes and ale, With fowloo bree, and cabbage, kail.