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.
INDIE, n. Also Indy. [′ɪnd(j)i]
†1. India. This form prevailed in Eng. in the 16th and 17th c. but is now obs. exc. in pl. Indies.Ayr. 1822 Galt Sir A. Wylie lxxxviii.:
Miss Jenny Templeton o' the Braehead, that's got the tocher frae Indy.
2. India-rubber (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; ne.Sc., Edb., Rxb. 1958). Also combs. Indie-rubber (n.Sc., Ags., Per., m.Lth., Ayr., Uls. 1958), rubbin-oot Indie (Watson); Indeen-rubber (Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) 88), Ingin-rubber (Gsw. 1910 H. Maclaine My Frien' 78); and chewin' india, “india rubber chewed enough to admit of air bells [bubbles] being formed in it and exploding with a loud crack” (Lnk. 1902 E.D.D.), crackin' Indie, id., “chewing gum” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Cf. also Ingies.Lnk. 1895 W. C. Fraser Whaups of Durley ii.:
I . . . begged as a great favour that he would lend me his slab of “chewin' india” for the rest of the day.
