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.
†GETLING, n. Also gettlin(g), gyt-, gait-, gayt-, goit-. Dim. forms of Get, n.
1. A young child, an infant (Ayr. 1811 W. Aiton Agric. Ayr. 692, gytling; Kcb.4 1900, Dmf. 1954, goitlin'); “lit. a dim. of get, a child, but in that sense applied only to one begotten in bastardy. Most commonly a term of opprobrium like fellow, knave, vagabond, and confounded with gadling; also used colloq. like bairn, child, etc., as applied to a timorous or cowardly person” (Sc. 1887 Jam.). Also attrib.Sc. c.1700 J. Maidment Bk. Sc. Pasquils (1868) 349:
We'll tak their gaytlings by the spauld, And dad them to the stanes.Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 191:
The Beauty, in o'er rash a Jest, Flang the Arch-Gytling [Cupid] in South-Sea.Sc. 1736 Ramsay Works (1851) III. 109:
That the getlings prove na fools, They maun be hawden at the schools.Cai. 1776 Weekly Mag. (25 Jan.) 146:
Nurs'd frae a gaitlin' till she grew a lass.Peb. 1793 R. Brown Carlop Green (1817) 130:
Tae victual the house for a month, And gytlings please at hame.Bch. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 119:
Daft gytlin things! what gypitness is this?Gsw. 1827 A. Rodger Peter Cornclips 70:
The screams o' wives and gettlings squalling.Sc. 1832 Scott C. R. Paris Intro. 25:
The least gaitling among them all comes to Paul Pattison with his lesson.Wgt. 1877 G. Fraser Sketches 185:
Naebody ever saw us comin' hame here drunk on Saturday nichts, and oor goitlin's gapin' for meat and nane to gie them.Hdg. 1908 J. Lumsden Th' Loudons 254:
He's jist the type o' generations O' gettlins o' a' ranks an' stations.
†3. “A young duck (or animal, etc.)” (†Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.), a young hog (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), 1914 Angus Gl.). Cf. Get, n., 2.
