Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1724-1916
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CUIT, COOT, Cute, Ceut, Ceit, Kut(e), Keet, K(u)it, Cüt, Küt, n. and v. [køt I.Sc., Ags., Per.; kit nn.Sc.; kyt, kɪt m.Sc., s.Sc.; kɪt wm.Sc.]
I. n.
1. The ankle (Sc. 1808 Jam., coot; 1902 E.D.D., kuit; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., küt; Cai. 1907 D. B. Nicolson in County of Cai. 76, keet; Cai.3 1931, ceit, keet). Extended to mean the foot; also the shin-bone (Fif.10 1941); the fetlock (Ayr.4 1928). Also dim. cuitie (Dmf. 1925 W. A. Scott in Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. 22). Gen. (exc. ne.) Sc.; for ne.Sc. forms, see Queet.Sc. 1724–27 Ramsay T. T. Misc. (1733) 29:
The sadle's nane o' my ain, An thae's but borrowed boots; And whan that I gae hame, I maun tak to my coots.Sc. 1872 J. Smail in Scotsman (25 April):
Wi' my kute i' the rib o' my naig, My swurd hingin' doon by my knee.Sc. 1895 H. Ochiltree Redburn v.:
Did ye notice how jimp she's aboot the waist? how trig aboot the kits?Sh.(D) 1891 J. J. H. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 2:
Dan I hears on da brig-staens da muvvin o cüts, An da fitsteps o somean wi neesterin büts.Ork. 1908 J. T. S. Leask in Old-Lore Misc. I. viii. 324:
I waas gan tae see 'im bit du sees 'e bides ower far awa an' me leg's swaled fae me ceut tae me houch.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore 38:
His coots were dozn'd an' the fettle tint, Yet o' them of the raips was seen the dint.Ags.(D) 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) xi.:
The ba' strack him a yark on the kut.Peb. 1793 Carlop Green (ed. R. D. C. Brown 1832) ii. xxx.:
Up frae his larded greasy cuits To's fiery shinin' nose.Ayr. 1789 Burns Duchess of Gordon (Cent. ed.) i.:
She kiltit up her kirtle weel To show her bonie cutes sae sma'.Gall.(D) 1901 Trotter Gall. Gossip 167:
They had awfu thick cuits too, stickin' oot at baith sides.
2. Phrs.: (1) to be oot o' 'e keets, — oot i' cuit, to have a sprained ankle (Ags.17 1941, — oot i' cuit); (2) to cule one's cutes, = Eng. to cool one's heels (Fif.10 1941).(1) Cai. 1916 J. Mowat Cai. Proverbs 6:
“Better oot o' 'e keets, than oot o' 'e kind” — said of one wearing high-heeled boots.(2) Sc. 1825 Jam.2:
I let him cule his cutes at the dore.
II. v. Found only in ppl.adj. cuited, having ankles.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 203:
Tou's cuited like the mother o' thee.
