A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1983 (DOST Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Perrie, Pirrie, attrib. (An epithet or name applied to the dog in Henryson's fable. Cf. late north. e.m.E. Perry as a dog's name (Meriton yorks. Dial., 1683, and Praise Ale, 1684), glossed ‘a little cur dog’ (Meriton, 1685), later Angus dial. pirrie-dog ‘a dog that is constantly at his master's heels’ (Jam.), and *Burry. Cf. also the dog's name Berrie, Burrye, in Henr. Fab. 546.) —a1500 Henr. Fab. 1166 (Harl.).
To heir quhat pirrie dog [Ch. Perrie doig, B. burry dog] will say thé till
