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: 1825-1895
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JAY, n. 1. Used as in Eng. and also in the following combs.: (1) jay-feathers, in phr. to set up one's jay-feathers at (another), to be provoked into retaliation in kind, to express strong disapprobation (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); (2) jay piet, -pyet, -pyot, -piat, a jay, Garrulus glandarius (Ags., Per. 1808 Jam.; Per. 1885 C. Swainson Brit. Birds 75; Kcb. 1959); (3) jay teal, the common teal, Querquedula crecca, “from its colour” (Kcb. 1885 Ib. 158).(1) Rxb. 1825 Jam.:
She made sic a rampaging, that I was obliged to set up my jay-feathers at her.(2) Dmf. 1836 A. Cunningham Lord Roldan III. xi.:
The jay-pyets are alarmed at a plumage more gaudy than their own.Dmf. 1857 Carlyle Life in London (Froude) II. 194:
There is not the heart of a jay piat in me, to use Jamie's phrase.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xvii.:
If we dinna chatter chatter awa like a wheen jay-pyots.Kcb. 1895 Crockett Bog-Myrtle 420:
It was the patch of blue sky on a jay's wing. They call it the “jay piet” hereabouts.
2. The missel thrush, Turdus viscivorus (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl., 1953 Traynor). Also jay-thrush, id. (Uls.4 1959).
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"Jay n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/jay>
