Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

POUTRIE, n. Also poutry (Sc. 1896 Stevenson W. Hermiston v.; m.Sc. 1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood xii.), poutrey, pouttry (Edb. 1894 J. W. McLaren Tibbie and Tam 119), pootry (Abd. 1884 D. Grant Keckleton 65), powtrie, -y. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. poultry (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 385, poutrey, Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 262, Per. 1966). [′putri]

1. As in Eng., but formerly in Sc. construed as a pl. after a numeral. Hence in 1826 quot. a single fowl. Combs. midden-poutrie, dung-hill or barnyard fowls. See also Midden; pootry-fool, a fowl (Sh. 1966); poutrie-man, a dealer in fowls, a poulterer (Edb. 1717, 1744 Edb. Marriage Register (S.R.S.) 79, 477, poultryman). Gen.Sc.Bnff. 1722 V. Gaffney Lordship Strathavon (S.C.) 207:
A hogg six poutrie and two reek henns of customes.Sc. 1729 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) III. 112:
Sheep and Powtry, Geese and Ducks.Sc. 1817 Scott Rob Roy xiv.:
It's no muckle matter what the folk do to the midden pootry, for they haud siccan a skarting and scraping in the yard.Sc. 1826 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1863) I. 118:
A great big pootry fool pursued by a ggem-cock. The pootry keeps quate wi' his came, and wattles in a hole till ggemy gies him a spur or twa on the hurdies.