Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†GORBIE, n. Dim. form of Gorb, a nestling, used (orig. in Galt) in phr. God's gorbie, of a clergyman.Ayr. 1821 Galt Ann. Parish xxvii.:
Claiming . . . an augmentation of my stipend . . . in case, after me, some bare and hungry gorbie of the Lord should be sent upon the parish, in no such condition to plea with the heritors as I was.Ib. i.:
The clergy are God's gorbies, and for their Master's sake it behoves us to respect them.Ayr. 1834 Galt Lit. Life I. 158:
The interview with Thomas Thorl is founded on an account given by my grandmother of a reception she gave herself, in days of yore, to one of “God's gorbies,” at Irvine.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 74:
There was ae ill-deedy rascal who had snooved in by inches as he saw the gorbies pyking at the banes of the young laird's patrimony.Sc. 1892 N. Dickson Auld Sc. Minister 19:
The two “gorbies” regaled themselves with the savoury stake.
