Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
MURT, n.1 Also mort (Jak.); moort (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.); murto (Sh. 1963). A small undersized or undeveloped creature or object (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 150, 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1963); specif. a small coalfish in its first year (Edm., Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)); a short knife (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 149). Deriv. murti, tiny, very small (Jak.). [mʌrt]
[Norw. murt, a small fish, O.N. murta, id., murtr, a nickname for a little man. The form moort may be influenced by Moot, n.2, q.v.]
