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.
PETTY, prop.n. The name of a parish in the north-east of Invernessshire. Comb. †Petty slip, see quot. and Slip.Inv. 1914 Trans. Inv. Scientific Soc. VIII. 174:
“Petty Slip” — There was a custom at funerals peculiar to this parish, namely to run as fast as possible. Hence in the neighbouring parishes, if rain came on, and they wished to quicken the progress of the funeral, it used to be said, “Let us take the ‘Petty Slip'.”
