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.
CURCUDDOCH, CURCUDDUCH, CORCUD(D)OCH, CARCUDEUGH, CURCUDDIE, adj., v. Also curcudyagh, curcudiough. [kʌr′kʌd(j)əx, kər′kʌdɪ̢]
1. adj.
(1) “Sitting close together” (n.Sc. 1825 Jam.2, curcuddoch); “intimate, good friends” (Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems, etc., Gl., carcudeugh); “sitting side by side around the fire” (Uls. 1929 (per Uls.2), curcudyagh). Hence curcudioughly, adv., “comfortably; cosily” (Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.). For corrupt form curcudget, see Jam.2 quot. s.v. Garmunshach.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore 7:
An' baith curcudduch an their heads bow'd down.
†(2) Cordial, kindly, good-humoured (Abd. 1825 Jam.2, corcuddoch; Dmf. Ib., curcuddoch).Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 345:
What makes you so ramgunshoch to me, and I so corcudoch.
2. v. †(1) To sit close together; “to hold a friendly tête-à-tête” (n.Sc. 1825 Jam.2).Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems, Gl.:
They were curcuddoching together, they were whispering kindly to one another, and dallying.
(2) To curtsy.Knr. 1895 “H. Haliburton” Dunbar in Mod. Sc. 97:
Allan curcuddied, Robert bow'd an' beckit.
