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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CUTTACK, KUTTACK, n. An Ork. name for the field-mouse or vole, Microtus agrestis. Marw. (1929) gives the form kuttack. [′kʌtək]Ork. 1907 A. W. Johnston in Old-Lore Misc. I. ii. 58:
Professor Skeat asks if the name vole-mouse is still used in Orkney and Shetland. . . . Mr. William Traill says that he always heard it called, about Kirkwall, vol-mūs . . . (o sounded short), and also the Cuttack.

[The same as Cutty, adj., 1, short, stumpy, + dim. suff. -ack, with reference to the animal's short tail; cf. Cuttie, n.1]

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