Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
NORIE, n.2 Also nori, nory, norrie. See also tammie-norie s.v. Tammie. [′nɔ:re]
1. (i) The puffin, Fratercula arctica (I.Sc. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1964). Phr.: Foula norie, a nickname for an inhabitant of Foula in Shetland (Sh. 1883 J. R. Tudor Ork. and Sh. 614, Sh. 1964); (ii) a barnacle, Lepas anatifera (Jak.), from its resemblance in shape to the beak of the puffin.(i) Ork. 1795 Stat. Acc.1 VII. 546:
The pickternie, the norie, and culterneb, the calaw, the scarf.Kcd. 1808 Scots Mag. (July) 512:
The Queets and Nories are much smaller in size than an ordinary duck, and have very short wings; but their eggs, which are of different colours, are very large.Sh. 1959 Shetland News (21 April) 3:
Magnus . . . soon had an auld norrie out by the head.
‡2. The cormorant, Phalacrocorax aristotelis (Ork. 1806 P. Neill Tour 198, 1929 Marw.).
[Orig. uncertain. Phs. imit. of the puffin's cry.]
