Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
KOOFIE, n. Also koofi, kufi, and comb. koo-fish, ku-, cow-. The form kurfie (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.) seems to be a misprint. A name applied to any large shell-fish of oval shape, such as the Mactra lutraria, Mya arenaria, Cyprina islandica (Ork. 1808 Jam.; Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1960), the carpet shell, Venerupis pullastra (Sh. 1954 Ork. Misc. II. 57, kufi). See Koo-shell.
[Ad. Norw. dial. kuv, a rounded top, O.N. kúfr, a heap; cf. Norw. dial. kuv(en), convex, kuvung, snail shell.]
