Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
FOTTIE, adj., n. Also fotty.
I. adj. Of a hen: having feathery legs (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).
II. n. 1. Any plump, short-legged person or animal, as a child, puppy, etc. (Slk. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); 2. “one whose stockings, trousers, boots, etc. are too wide” (Rxb. Ib.); 3. “formerly used to denote a female wool-gatherer, one who went from place to place for this purpose” (Slk. 1825 Jam.).
[From Fot, quasi “wearing fots,” the n. being derived from an epithetical use of the adj.]
