Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BIDDI(E), BIDI, n. [′bɪdi]
1. “Cake of barley- or oat-meal” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), s.v. bidi; Angus Gl. (1914) biddi, a thick bannock).Sh. 1814 Irvine MSS.:
A thick cake of bread made for sea.Sh. 1899 J. Spence Sh. Folk-Lore 132:
The skipper opens the buggie . . . and takes out three biddies (very thick oatcakes).Sh.4 1933:
Boy, yon's a lump o' a aetmael biddie 'at du haes yonder.
2. “Small object or child, bigger than circumstances warrant, a great b[idi]” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).
3. “Sheep-mark; small semicircular cut (piece cut out) on the side of a sheep's ear” (Ib.).
[O.N. biti, a bit or piece. See Bid(d), n.2]
