Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
DORRO, n. and v. Also dorra, -ow, dar(r)a, -o. [′dɔro, ′dɑro, ′daro]
1. n.
(1) A trailing cord with hooked lines attached, used in catching cod, mackerel, ling, coalfish, etc. (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., dorro; Ork. 1929 Marw., darro; Bnff.2 1940, darra; Bnff. 1989); “kept in constant motion to and fro (up and down) while the boat is rowed gently forward” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), dorro, darro). Comb. dorro-bullet, a bell-like lead sinker at the end of a mackerel line (Ags. 1975).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 36:
The hooks and small piece of lead used for sinking the line are called the darra, and the line, the darra-shaft.
(2) Whip-cord (Ib.). Also in comb. darrashot.Bch. 1943 W. Spence Forsyth Guff o' Waur 70:
And lines o' barkit darrashot.
(3) The wooden frame on which the fishing-lines are wound (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., dara, 1908 Jak. (1928); Ork. 1929 Marw.; Sh. 1975).
†(4) “A net fixed to a hoop of wood or iron, used for catching crabs; the garbage of fish, etc. being thrown into the bottom of it for attracting them” (Mearns 1825 Jam.2, dorra).
2. v. To fish in shallow water with a floating hand-line (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., dorrow; 1908 Jak. (1928); 1914 Angus Gl., dorro).
[Norw. dorg, a trailing fishing-line; O.N. dorg, id. The final consonant has been vocalised on the analogy of O.E. words in -g (ȝ) which have cognates in O.N., e.g. O.E. burg, O.N. borg, Burgh (n.1); cf. Gael dorgh, dorbh.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Dorro n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Sep 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/dorro>
