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: 1864-1880
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CURLIE, Curley, n. 1. Usu. pl.: curly colewort (n.Sc. 1808 Jam., curlies; Mry.1 1925, curlie; Bnff.2, Abd.9, Fif.10 1941, Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B. s.v. curly-green, Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn., curleys). Also used attrib. Mearns c.1880 Proverb in Montrose Standard (21 June 1929):
Time tries a' an' frost the curlies.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xvii.:
They [hares] come into my kaill yard under clud o' nicht, like evil-doers, an' eat up my bits o' curlie plants stoup an' roup as fast as they grow.
2. A sea-taboo name for a pig (Sh. 1958), from its curly tail. Comb. curlie-tail, id. (Kcd. 1975).
[1: a reduced form of Curly Kail, id., q.v.; 2: from its curly tail.]
