Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

PEG, prop.n. Dim. Peggie. Sc. usages:

1. In combs.: †(1) pegpie, n., the magpie, Pica pica (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 378); (2) Peg Puff, a young woman who behaves and dresses like an old one, an “old-fashioned” girl (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 378); (3) Peg Walker, skim-milk cheese, “from the peculiar cohesive character of its particles” (s.Sc. 1896 A. Cheviot Proverbs 275). Cf. Eng. dial. Old Peg, id., with a pun on Waulk, to full cloth.

2. In dim. form peggie, -y, (1) a household implement for stirring and pounding clothes in the wash-tub, a dolly (Abd. 1958 People's Jnl. (9 Aug.); Ked. 1965). Also in Eng. dial.Lnk. 1958 People's Jnl. (23 Aug.):
A peggy is a stout pole about one yard long with a round base something like the shape of an old-fashioned potato masher, but much larger. This was used to dump the blankets on washing day.

(2) in comb. peggy burlie, the marguerite, Chrysanthemum frutescens. For burlie? cf. Birlie, n.², from its appearance.Dmf. 1962 Stat. Acc.³ 242:
Clover and marguerites (peggy burlies), which once grew in profusion, are now disappearing because of the sheep.