Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
NETTERCAP, n. Also -crap (Ags., Fif.), nettercaup (Fif. 1875 A. Burgess Poute 12), nat(t)ercap, neddarcap, nedder- (Sc. 1880 Jam.), and reg. in reduced dim. form nett(e)rie (Kcd., Ags., Per.). 1. = Ettercap, 1., a spider (Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 155; Kcd., em.Sc. (a) 1964); occas. a daddy long-legs, cranefly (Ags. 1964). Also attrib. in phr. nettery-fingers, fig., nimble fingers; 2. see Ather-cap; 3. = Ettercap, 3., a bad-tempered person (Cld. 1880 Jam.; Fif., Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 257; Kcd. 1964).1. ne.Sc. 1874 D. Macgregor The Scald 20:
Lang-leggit nettries, an' lizards.Ags. 1894 A. Reid Songs 124:
Whaur only netterie's wabs were seen.Fif. 1896 G. Setoun R. Urquhart iv.:
Rob keeps an e'e on the birds; I gang by the busses an' nettercaps maistly, an' the moon when she shows hersel'.Ags. 1930 A. Kennedy Orra Boughs xxv.:
He admired the slim daftness of his fingers as they clipped up the paper. “Nettery-fingers” his Granny had once called them.Ags. 1948 People's Jnl. (23 April):
He [tortoise]'s gien the netteries a flaig.Ags. 1998:
Ye're no feared o a netterie [daddy-long-legs], Bab.
