Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1773, 1870, 1936
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COOT, Quet, Queet, n. Also quit (ne.Sc. 1903 G. Sim Fauna of "Dee" 191). The guillemot, Uria troile (Abd. 1885 C. Swainson Brit. Birds 218, quet; Mearns 1825 Jam.2). Coot is used in Mod.Eng. only for the bald coot, Fulica atra; for forms in k, see Beld, adj.1, Combs. (1). [Current pronunciation kwit]Bnff. 1870 in Bnffsh. Jnl. (25 Jan.) 6:
Four birds its winged glory . . . The Queet and Tammy-norie.Abd. 1773 S. Johnson Journey to Scot. (1775) 37–38:
One of the birds that frequent this rock [Buchan Ness] has . . . its body not larger than a duck's, and yet lays eggs as large as those of a goose. The bird is by the inhabitants named a Coot.Abd.16 1936:
“The climmin' queets o' Gair'nston” is a phrase jocularly applied to the people of Gardenstown.
