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.
GIRTLE, n., v. [′dʒɪ̢rtəl]
I. n. A small quantity of anything, esp. of liquids, a driblet. Dims. girtlie, girtlick(ie), augmentative girtloch (Gregor).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 63–64:
She got bit a girtle o' milk fae the coo, tho' she dribbit till hir fingers wiz sair.Ib. 64:
He jist gets his bits o' bawbees in girtles.
II. v. 1. To pour out in small quantities. With up: to splash up in driblets; with oot our: to spill in driblets (Ib.).Ib.:
Hir father cam in on 'ir, an' got hir girtlin' ale oot ae bottle intil anither.
2. To “potter” with liquids, to work with them in an ineffectual way.Ib.:
She wiz girtlin' and brewin' ale. She wiz girtlin' an' tryin' t' milk the kai.
3. “To use constantly as an article of food, followed by at and wee” (Ib.).
[Dim. form of jirt s.v. Chirt.]
