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.
HOATIE, n. Also ho(a)ts. A term used in a top-spinning game (see quot.).Lnk. 1825 Jam.:
When a number of boys agree to have a game at the Pearie or peg-top, a circle is drawn on the ground, within which all the tops must strike and spin. If any of them bounce out of the circle without spinning, it is called a hoatie. The punishment to which the hoatie is subjected, consists in being placed in the ring, while all the boys whose tops ran fairly have the privilege of striking, or as it is called, deggin' it, till it is either split or struck out of the circle. If [n]either of these take[s] place, the boy to whom the hoatie belonged, has the privilege of playing again.
