Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
DUMPLING, n. Sc. usages.
†1. A pudding made of sheep's blood, fat, and oat-meal (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 188), a black-pudding.
2. A ball made of oatmeal boiled in soup (Bwk. 1825 Jam.2; Abd. 1951).
3. Also dumplin. A spicy fruit pudding, often boiled in a cloth; cf. clootie dumpling s.v. clootie adj.1 5.Sc. 1996 Scotland on Sunday 15 Sep 11:
As Patricia cut into the cake, Catherine told me: "My first birthday cake was at 45. Ma da had a dumpling for me birthdays, and I've not yet been to a pantomime."Gsw. 1978 Edith Little When Sixpence was a Fortune 4:
"Noo keep that kettle bilin'
An' don't let the fire go oot,
Or there will be nae bloomin' dumplin
Jist a lovely burned oot cloot."
I hoped we'd get some threepennies, Wrapped up an' mixed as weel, But she gets in an' awfu' state, An' says it wilna sweel.Gsw. 1985 Stanley Baxter and Alex Mitchell Stanley Baxter's Suburban Shocker 98:
It happened after Caroline McCloot had flung her final dumpling. She lay back on the grass and intimated that she was utterly wabbit. The time had not came for me to fling for the Golden Dumpling Medal.
4. An idiot (Ags., Fif., Edb., Arg., Ayr., Rxb. 2000s).Gsw. 1987 James Kelman Greyhound for Breakfast (1988) 68:
'Da's betting a fiver!'
'What!' Missis McDonald stared across. 'Am I hearing right? Ya bloody dumpling!'
