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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PEEDIE, adj. Small, tiny, diminutive, little (Cai. 1929 John o' Groat Jnl. (27 Dec.), Ork., Cai. 1965). Reduplic. form peedie-adie, very small, teeny-weeny (Ork. 1951); of speech: clipped, mincing (Cai. 1956, a peedie wye o speakin). Also as nickname. [′pidi]Cai. 1934 John o' Groat Jnl. (30 March) 3:
An auld mannie telt me fan A wis a peedie boyag hirdan'e coos.Ork. 1936 Scots Mag. (Dec.) 227:
“Peedie” means “little,” but Peedie Tam was a strapping young giant of six feet. It turned out that he was merely known as “Peedie” Tam to distinguish him from his father, who was “Old” Tam. Ork. 1952 R. T. Johnston Stenwick Days (1984) 5:
"Here id is. Boris Corsie - the best lookin', bit wi' bendy legs an' gaun a peedie bit bald at the back o' the heid. ..." Cai. 1955 Edb. John o' Groat Lit. Soc.:
Professors by 'e dizzan Aal spleetan' peedie atomies by Doonreay's lon'ly shore. Ork. 1952 R. T. Johnston Stenwick Days (1984) 117:
Godfrey, after hurling an epithet at Swanney which cannot be reproduced here, covered his face with his hands, and groaned, "If Peedie Learmonth hid been there it wid hive been a goal." Cai. 1992 James Miller A Fine White Stoor 63:
Skin is so smooth. There's a row o peedie hairagies on her upper lip. Ork. 1995 Orcadian 16 Mar 19:
When I was peedie, and playing along the shore, I found many jewels in the ebb, ... Ork. 1996 Lisa Snell in Kathleen Jamie and James McGonigal New Writing Scotland 14: Full Strength Angels 172:
'Sweeties fur peedie boys. Peedie boyes lik sweeties.'
She placed thim in me hand. They wir pear drops. Magic! Ah luikit hir in th face. Ork. 2000 Orcadian 4 May 23:
THE PEEDIE KIRK U.R.C.
PALACE ROAD, KIRKWALL
SUNDAY, 7th MAY
11a.m.
Mr David Bain
Sunday Club
Everyone Welcome Ork. 2002 Herald 24 Jan 16:
A single woman, she was known to have had several pregnancies, but only one child, - known locally as "the peedie boy" - survived. Sc. 2002 Sunday Herald 22 Dec 20:
Perhaps my view is coloured by the rumour, currently sweeping the peedie parliament, that Tom McCabe, Labour's charmless enforcer in the McLeish era, is quietly canvassing for the job.

Combs. (1) peedie folk, Fairies; (2)peedie school, Infant school; (3) peedie summer, An Indian summer.(1)Ork. 1994 George Mackay Brown Beside the Ocean of Time 145:
One old woman, Jemima Hoy, said the peedie folk, the trows, the trolls, the fairiks had taken them away.(2)Ork. 1996 Orcadian 21 Mar 13:
In those days the books of the Bible were part of our curriculum and most of us soon became familiar with them. I still have the remnants of a big, fat, black notebook I won for repeating the books of both testaments, while in the Peedie School.(3)Ork. 1995 Orcadian 19 Oct 14:
It was about the start of "the peedie summer" and I had put my winter cardigan and jacket on, plus a pak-a-mac in case it came on to rain.