Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BRONGIE, BRONGGI, BRONGI, Brungi, n. “A name given to the cormorant, Pelecanus [Phalacrocorax] carbo” (Sh. 1825 Jam.2; 1866 Edm. Gl.; 1914 Angus Gl., bronggi). [′brɔŋgi]Sh. 1885 C. Swainson Brit. Birds 142:
The young cormorants are called “brongie,” the adults “loering.”
Combs.: (1) brongikwidin, brungi-, “(a) white-breasted cormorant; (b) ‘white-breasted man,' nickname for a man wearing a white waistcoat” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)); (2) brongiskarf, brungi-, “white-breasted cormorant” (Ib.).
[O.N. bringa, breast (Zoëga); cf. Norw. bringe, Sw. bringa, idem, O.E. bring-âdl, consumption (Falk and Torp). Brongie is from an ablaut variant of O.E. bring, cf. Eng. sing and song. For the second elements in the combs. see Hwida and Scarf.]
