Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
DOOKER, Dou(c)ker, -ar, n.1 As ducker in Eng. applied to the divers or Colymbidæ in gen. and to the little grebe in particular, Podiceps ruficollis (Per. 1885 C. Swainson Brit. Birds 216, doucker; e.Lth. Ib., small-, little-; Kcb.10 1940), also to the horned grebe (Dmf. 1825 Jam.2, doukar). In Sc. it is used also for: (1) the cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 180, douker), also black dooker (Kcb.10 1940); (2) the tufted duck, Nyroca fuligula (Arg. (Islay) 1885 C. Swainson Brit. Birds 159), or the pochard, N. ferina (Rxb. Ib. 160); (3) the goldeneye, Glaucionetta clangula (Rxb. Ib. 161). Also loosely applied to other sea birds (see 1948 quot.).Inv. 1795 Stat. Acc.1 XIII. 382:
The swan, a variety of fishing ducks or duckers, and the wood cock live here in winter, but retire in summer.w.Sc. (Skye) 1859 A. Smith in Macmillan's Mag. I. 122:
Gulls of all kinds are there, dookers and divers of every description.Arg. 1948 G. C. Hay in Scots Mag. (Feb.) 337:
We'll go out and get a few dookers for the pot. . . . The name, for which the Gaelic equivalent is eoin dhubha, covers the guillemot and all the birds of its kind or in any way like it — razorbills or “wee snipe.”Kcb. 1805 R. Forsyth Beauties Scot. II. 380:
[Amongst] the sea-fowls are . . . scarfs or black duckers.
