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.
COUKUDDY, Coo-, Coucuddie, Cow-, Co-cuddy, Cu-, Cock-, Cokaddy, n. “A ludicrous dance performed by children in a couking or cowering posture” (Clydes. 1879 Jam.5, cookuddy, cou-, cokaddy); to perform antics (Ib.). Gen. in phr. to dance —. Mont.-Fleming gives coucuddie and cowcuddie. Cf. Curcuddie, n.Sc. 1756 Mrs Calderwood Letters and Journals (1884) 322:
Then they all danced what the bairns call co-cuddy, and then on their hands and feet, like so many frogs.Arg. c.1850 The Follinash in L. McInnes Dial. S. Kintyre (1936) 30:
Doon on our hunkers let us crooch And dance cockcuddy roon'.Ayr. 1789 D. Sillar Poems 109:
When he was hung up i' the woody, Instead o' mournin', I murgeon'd him, an' danced cucuddy, Tae see him girnin'.
