Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1709, 1765-1998
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HANDY, adj., n. Also hany (Mry. 1806 J. Cock Simple Strains 109); hannie (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 252); hanny (Ayr.4 1928); han'y; handie, haundy. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. handy.
Sc. forms:Gsw. 1990 John and Willy Maley From the Calton to Catalonia 14:
Mrs Cochrane came roon yesterday way a balaclava an a bag a soor plooms. Ah hope the balaclava comes in haundy. The wee yins ate the soor plooms.Lnk. 1998 Duncan Glen Selected New Poems 7:
Here it is gey haundy but faur oot the wey,
here still moment before movement
there
already in the language
the nippin north wi angry sough.
Sc. usages:
I. adj. 1. Manual, of or by the hand. Now obs. in Eng. Phr. by handy micht, by main force.Lnk. 1709 Minutes J.P.s (S.H.S.) 84:
Breaking the Sabbath day . . . in useing of handy labour.Abd. 1872 J. G. Michie Deeside Tales 121:
Seean' nae way for the laird out o' his difficulty but by handy micht.
2. Light-fingered (Lnk. 1825 Jam., hanny). Gen. used in a bad sense = thievish.
3. Dexterous, skilful, as in Eng. Hence comb. handy wife, an unqualified midwife or knowledgeable woman who used to assist at confinements (Abd., Kcd., Per., Fif., m.Lth., Ayr. 1956).Ags. 1894 Brechin Advertiser (13 Feb.) 3:
He rade to Brechin for Luckie Ga', the handie wife.Sc. 1920 D. Rorie Auld Doctor 53:
At ilka cryin' I'm handy wife, Wi' herbs I hae trokit awa'.Sc. 1927 Scots Mag. (Dec.) 212:
The handy-wife . . . mounted pillion behind him, and the worthy pair started hell-for-leather on the return journey.
4. With neg.: easy to accomplish or to put up with (Bnff., Ags., Ayr., Kcb., Uls. 1956); adj.phr. nae handy (always following the word qualified), "awful", beyond moderation, excessive; also used adv. (Abd.16 1947, Abd. 1956). Of price: moderate, reasonable (wm.Sc.1 1956).Bch. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 68:
"I kent," quo she, "'twas some good gift, To fleg me was na handie."Fif. 1806 A. Douglas Poems 69:
Gin ye angry grow, or glowr, That winna be sae handy.Abd. 1839 A. Walker De'il at Baldarroch 21:
To strive wi' some it's nae sae handy.Ayr. c.1892 R. Lawson Ballads Carrick 8:
When climbing owre the Hadyet Hill It wasna han'y wark, man.Abd. 1913 G. Greig Mains Again 42:
I cam on Peter oxterin Kate nae handy.Abd. 1926 E. Duthie Three Short Plays 9–10:
She's affa feart o' bein' lost fan there's onybody else aboot. It's nae handy, bit fit can ye dee?Abd. 1951 Buchan Observer (28 Aug.):
And he proceeded to lay off at a rate nae handy. But he summed up, at "lang lenth." Bnff. 1989:
A dirl nae-handy means a 'real good' dirl. Gsw. 1993:
'His shoe! It's got a weight nae handy.'
5. Of an animal: quiet to handle, amenable, adaptable (ne.Sc. 1956).Abd. 1765 Aberdeen Jnl. (12 Aug.):
Four Years old Geldings . . . broke to be quite handy and gentle.Abd. 1954 Buchan Observer (28 Dec.):
For Sale Shetland Pony, Harness, very handy. Young Calver Cow for Sale, very handy.
II. n. A nickname for one who has a maimed or missing hand. Cf. Fittie, n., 5.Bwk. 1796 Session Papers, Bell v. King (25 Feb.) 9:
Mr Purves (who went by the nickname of Handy, on account of his having lost a hand).
