Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

GURRY-WURRY, n.comb. Also -worry and gurr-wurr.

1. The growl or snarl of a dog (Abd.⁶ 1913, gurr-wurr; Ags. 1955). Also attrib.wm.Sc. 1837 Laird of Logan 85:
The dogs in this quarter . . . jabber our gurry-wurry language wi' such a vile northern accent, that it often fashes me [dog] to understand them.

2. A dog-fight; a brawl, wrangle (Slg., m.Lth., Lnk., Ayr., sm.Sc. 1954); the name of a boy's game, like King of the Castle (Lnk.¹¹ 1910).Lnk. 1885 F. Gordon Pyotshaw xvii.:
A bonny gurry-wurry I had ower't wi' yon tinkler tongit Hielant wife.Ayr. 1913 J. Service Memorables 5:
There is a gurry wurry in the outer yaird, as of a wheen dowgs at a bane.

¶3. Fig. A dense swirling mass of people, as in a dance.Sc. 1922 J. P. Macgillivray Bog-Myrtle 78:
The gurry-worry wheel't about The back an' fore an' in an' out — It jinket like a pretty trout . . . They ca'd it Tullochgorum!