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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

GEE, n. Also gie, gei; ¶jee (m.Sc. 1917 J. Buchan Poems 38). A whim, notion, mood, fancy, caprice; a fit (gen. of sulkiness or obstinacy); a lively or daft mood (Cai.⁷ 1954; Ork., Cai., Bnff., Abd. 2000s); a song of this name.  Gen.Sc. Commonly in phr. to tak the gee, see below. [Sc. gi:, Rxb. gəi]Sc. 1714 in Jacobite Minstr. (1829) 69:
When he takes on his good dame's gees, He canna rule himsel', Sir.Abd. 1768 A. Ross What ails the Lasses vi.:
But when I speak to them that's stately I find them ay ta'en with the gee.Mry. 1806 R. Jamieson Pop. Ballads I. 300:
And lads, gin your lasses grow dorty, Let never their gees mak ye wae.Dmf. 1808 J. Mayne Siller Gun 56:
The Gee, and Fare ye weel, Killavie, He sang sae sweet.n.Sc. 1835 in H. Miller Scenes & Leg. xxii.:
Thy saucy gee shows thee to be Like a blind muzzled mole.Sh. 1900 E.D.D.:
She'll dü it when the gie is on her.Mry. 1922 Swatches o' Hamespun 20:
Queer gees that aul' fouk tak' intil their heids.Ork.¹ 1925:
There's a great gee o' wark on him juist noo.Abd. 1927 E. S. Rae Hansel Fae Hame 27:
A car! fie naw, I'll nae gang gyte wi' ony sic a gee. Ma giggie's aul' an' dirdit deen, but shoggles on wi' me.Ayr. 1927 J. Carruthers A Man Beset 66:
In a gee aboot — ye ken what.Ork. 1988:
I had a gee for growing courgettes last year.

Phr.: to tak the gee, to take offence, to take the sulks; “to become pettish and unmanageable” (Sc. 1808 Jam.), extended also to inanimate objects. Gen.Sc. Also in n.Eng. dial.Sc. a.1776 D. Herd Sc. Songs II. 87:
Then hey play up the rinawa' bride, For she has ta'en the gie.Lnk. 1808 W. Watson Poems 89:
Wha's pleugh ae day had taen the gee.Dmf. 1817 W. Caesar Poems 46:
Cause ye hae tax'd the Highlan' loun He's ta'en the gee.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 12:
Cauld Cellardyke had taen the gee; Her boats, deil ane was now at sea.Edb. 1895 J. Tweeddale Moff xxii.:
When it [sleep] tak's the gee it's whiles jist as kittle's the weemen tae manage.Arg. 1901 N. Munro Doom Castle xxxv.:
The tawpie's ta'en the gee at the Factor.Rxb. 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 11:
Machinery which has gone out of order and seems to defy attempts at repair is said to have taen the gei.Bch. 1929 J. Milne Dreams o' Buchan 14:
Nae soothin' reek cam' tae his moo', His pipe had ta'en the gee.