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.
PISKIE, n.1 Also -y, piscie. Jocular reduced form of Episcopalian, a member of the Scottish Episcopal Church. Gen.Sc. [′pɪski]Sc. 1899 H. G. Graham Social Life II. 125:
The rude boys calling the vulgar rhyme after them: “Pisky, Pisky, Amen, Down on your knees and up again”.Sc. 1964 Weekly Scotsman (12 March) 8:
In a nation where the Kirk out numbers the Piscies by at least 12 to one, it is bizarre to find that the children of top people so often find that Episcopal worship is the thing for top schools.Ork. 1972 George Mackay Brown Greenvoe (1976) 173:
Andrew Baillie from the Borders ... saw himself as the future Archbishop of Glasgow once the Presbyterians and the Piskies were united. Gsw. 1985 Anna Blair Tea at Miss Cranston's 95:
Anyway, when I got wed I went wi' my man to the Presbyterian Kirk, but after the Piskies it was a wee bit dull no' to take your part in the service. So sometimes at Easter, just to mind me of old times, I used to slip away to the Anglican Church at Polmadie. wm.Sc. 1994 Herald (25 Aug) 14:
As a practising Piskie (look it up, James) and Partick Thistle fan, I have nailed my non-sectarian colours to the mast. Gsw. 1997 Herald (25 Jul) 23:
We have already explored the meanings of the word bunce which came to public attention by the conviction for embezzlement of Michael Bunce, the hapless help-yourself Piskie Provost of St Paul's Cathedral in Dundee. Sc. 1998 Herald (22 Aug) 17:
Fletcher was neither a Pisky nor a prole but can be seen, if we turn a blind eye to his quirks, standing in the mainstream of his era's moderate presbyterian nationalism.
