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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.

KATIE, n. Also katty, kaittie. See also Kittie. [′kete]

1. A term of contempt for an effeminate man (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Ags. 1959). Cf. Jennie, Jessie, id.

2. The wren, Nannus troglodytes (Bwk. 1889 G. Muirhead Birds Bwk. I. 102, kaittie). Cf. 3. (5).

3. Combs.: (1) katie-beardie, -bairdie, -y, (a) an epithet for a woman with a beard or moustache (Cai., Abd., Ags. 1959). Kette Bairdie is found as the title of a popular dance song c.1630 (see R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes (1847) 194); (b) the loach, Nemacheilus barbatula (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Gall. 1958 Dmf. & Gall. Standard (1 Feb.); Ags., Fif., m.Lth. 1959); (c) a name for the hedge-sparrow, Prunella occidentalis, or the wren, Troglodytes troglodytes (Per. 1959); (2) katty-clean-doors, a child's name for snow; (3) katie flips, three-cornered sugar sweets; (4) katie-lailie, -laylie, -leelie , daddy-long-legs (Arg.¹ 1931, Arg. 1992); (5) katie-wren, kaittie-wa-rain, -wren, = 2. (Bwk. 1889 G. Muirhead Birds Bwk. 102; Abd., Lth., Bwk. 1959). Cf. Eng. jenny-, kitty-wren, and cutty-wren s.v. Cutty.(2) Lnk. 1844 J. Lemon St Mungo 32:
A' the cabbage an' green kail are theekit wi snaw, Aye, that's Katty-clean-doors, she laughs at us a'.(3) Edb. 1898 J. Baillie Walter Crighton ii.:
Wha'll buy sock? Katie flips, six a maik!(5) Bwk. 1897 R. M. Calder Poems 80:
We kenned the spot where the robin bigged, The yorlin' an' katie wren.