Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1720, 1895
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HAIRRY, prop. n. Sc. form of the Eng. Christian name Harry, also †Hary (Rnf. 1734 W. Hector Judicial Rec. (1876) 236), Hairy (Sc. 1818 S. Ferrier Marriage ii.; Ayr. 1826 Galt Last of the Lairds iv.; Sc. 1826 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 155; Abd. 1917 C. Murray Sough o' War 47). Sc. forms of Harry, Henry (Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xviii.; Sc. 1889 Stevenson Master of Ballantrae iv.; Per., Fif., Lth. 1915–26 Wilson; Ork., ne.Sc. 1975). [′here]
Sc. usages: (1) auld Hairry, as a name for the devil (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B. 44; Sh., ne.Sc., Ags., m.Lth., Rxb., Uls. 1956). Cf. colloq. Eng. Old —, id.; (2) blin(d) Hairry, the game of blind-man's-buff (Ags. 1956). See also Blin', adj., 4. (20).(1) Edb. 1895 J. Tweeddale Moff 56:
It would play “auld Hairry” wi' the Free.(2) Edb. 1720 A. Pennecuik Helicon 78:
So Geordie and we, fell to play at blind Hary. Geordie gigled and leugh ay, whan I was ta'n.
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"Hairry prop. n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 20 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/hairry>
