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.
GABBIE, -Y, adj. Garrulous, chatty, talkative; fluent in speech. Gen.(exc. I.)Sc.Sc. 1719 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 119:
Ye're never rugget, shan, nor kittle, But blyth and gabby.Abd. 1755 R. Forbes Jnl. from London 28:
He was a fine gabby, auld-farren carly.Slk. 1818 Hogg B. of Bodsbeck I. iii.:
That doctor was the gabbiest body ever I met wi'; he spake for them a'.Ayr. 1823 Galt Entail I. iii.:
As he was sly and gabby, he soon contrived to get in about the good-will of the farmers' wives.Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 135:
There see ye that ane, brazen-faced and gabbie, Wi' sly and cunning knuckles by the lave.Hdg. 1903 J. Lumsden Toorle 9:
That gabbie youngster made my saft briest thud.Gsw. 1929 D. Allan The Deans x.:
“Gabby bodies” lacking much gumption.
Hence gabbie-gash (Mry. c.1875), -gashlich (Abd.7 1925; ‡Abd.15 1953), -snarroch (Bnff. 1953), one who is over-talkative or sharp-tongued.Bnff.2 a.1900:
Had yir tongue, gabbie-snarroch; ye've ower muckle t' say.
