Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
PARRY, v. Also paury. Sc. form and usages:
1. As in Eng., orig. a word of command in fencing.Abd. 1825 Jam.:
“Whan ane says Parry, aw says Parry”; a prov[erbial] phrase . . . signifying that when any thing is said by a person of consequence, it is immediately echoed by every one.
2. To trifle, waste time, to dawdle or delay in order to avoid action, equivocate (Lnk. 1965). Vbl.n. parrying, trifling, equivocation, evasion. Also with aboot.Per. 1883 R. Cleland Inchbracken viii.:
I'm for nae mair o' yer parryin' I'se tell ye.Bwk.2 1948:
The other day a woman told me that she had parried aboot a' mornin'.
3. With wi': to meddle or tamper with, have dealings with, occupy oneself with, interfere with (Fif., w.Lth. 1965).Sc. 1815 T. Chalmers Posthum. Wks. (1849) VI. 306:
He would not trifle or delay or make any parrying with temptation.Fif. 1862 St. Andrews Gazette (1 Aug.):
I thocht Cromwell had gien the folk o' England a lesson no to paury owre muckle wi' the cat's tail, nor keep strokin' her against the hair.Fif. 1901 G. Setoun Skipper of Barncraig xviii.:
You'll no [reach a green old age] if you parry wi' drink.Abd. 1921 T.S.D.C.:
“Dinna parry wi'd noo”, said to a child who is disposed to touch what would hurt it.wm.Sc. 1935 J. Corrie Income 8:
The next time that pain comes to your big tae, you get somebody to 'phone for the ambulance. The big tae is no' a thing to parry wi'.
4. “To fight in play” (Sc. 1911 S.D. D. Add.).
