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.
Quotation dates: 1804, 1855-1866, 1920-1925
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CHACKART, CHACKERT, Chakart, Chackie, n. [′tʃɑkərt]
1. A name applied to several birds of allied species, e.g. stonechat, Pratincola rubicota (Mry.1 1925; Bch. 1825 Jam.2, chackart, chackie); whinchat, Pratincola rubetra (Bnff. 1898 E.D.D.), and more rarely to the ring-ouzel, Turdus torquatus. Known to Bnff.2, Abd. correspondents, Lnk.3 1939. Also dim. chackertie, a stonechat (Mry.1 1925). Cf. Chack, n.5Bch. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 10:
Fell Death . . . Trail't him aff i' his dauk car, As dead's a chackart.
Combs.: (1) aiten-chackart (see quot.); (2) steen-chackart, -chackert, the wheatear (Bnff.2 1939; Abd. 1855 W. Macgillivray Nat. Hist. of Dee Side 200, -chackart).(1) Abd. 1855 W. Macgillivray Nat. Hist. of Dee Side 200:
Because they are often found in places where Juniper, called Aiten, is abundant, [ring-ouzels] are in all this district [Upper Deeside] called Aiten-chackarts.(2) Abd.(D) 1920 C. Murray In the Country Places 2:
But when loupin' the dyke a steen-chackert flew oot, An' he huntit a fyle for her nest.
2. A term of endearment or of affectionate reproof (Bnff.2, Abd.2 1939).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 24:
Sic a dear chackart o' a lassie.Abd.7 1925:
"Nae cheek fae chackerts" is an injunction given to pert children; and "chackerts are aye cheepin'" is said to children who murmur or complain.
3. "An eavesdropper" (Abd.4 1929, chakart, chackert). Cf. superstition (common in old ballads) of birds being able to understand human speech and carry messages, and note also colloq. Eng. "a little bird told me."
[From Chack, v.2, (2) + suff. -art, -ert, that which.]
