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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PATTY, n. Also pat(t)i, paatie, pautie (Sh. 1932 J. Saxby Trad. Lore 196), potye; paddy, pad(do), and dim. patsie (Jak.). [Sh. ′pɑtɪ; Ork. ′pɑdi]

1. A pig, esp. a young one (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 170, paatie, 1908 Jak. (1928), 1914 Angus Gl., patti; Ork. 1929 Marw., paddy, Ork. 1965); often one kept as a pet.Sh. 1845 Stat. Acc.2 XV. 128:
A young swine is here known by the name of a runny or grice; one fed about the fireside, a patty.
Sh. 1886 G. Temple Britta 20:
When the repast was finished, the remnants were thrown to the “patsie” pig.
Crm. 1918 Rymour Club Misc. III. 77:
The domestic pig was called the potye.
Ork. 1931 J. Leask Peculiar People 40:
Eh, na, noo' I hard ye're killed ye're paddy.

Combs.: (1) paddy dreel, see quot. and Dreel; (2) patti-grice, a sucking pig, a piglet (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)); (3) paddy-tang, a seaweed, Fucus canaliculatus, sometimes eaten by pigs (Ork. 1929 Marw.; Sh. 1965); (4) paddy-yard, an enclosure for pigs (Marw.).(1) Ork. 1958 Ork. Herald (25 Feb.) 3:
A paddy dreel was the humorous term given to the act of taking a person by the ear (such as a child from his seat to the front of the schoolroom) and marching him along against his inclination.

2. A call-name for a pig (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), patsi; Ork. 1929 Marw., paddy, pad(do)).

[Cf. Dan. pattegris, a sucking pig, < patte, a teat.]

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