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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.

PLOOTS, v., n.pl. Also plut(s), plouts, plootsh, plooch; ploits, pløts (Jak.).

I. v. 1. To walk in a flat-footed clumsy way (as if) with bare feet, to waddle, plod along (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), pluts, pløts, 1914 Angus Gl., plutsh, Sh. 1966).Sh. 1898 “Junda” Klingrahool 85:
Plutshin, flapping with the feet in walking, as sea-fowl do.Sh. 1931 Shetland Times (14 March) 7:
Shuard set the kishie firmly on his old, broad shoulders, and “plooch'd” down the heathery slope to the yard-dyke, of his croft.Sh. 1964 Norden Lichts 8:
Wi' flaachterin scarfs, and plootshin looms.

2. To dabble with the feet in water, to paddle (Ork. 1966). Deriv. plutsi, a nickname for a child (Jak.).Sh. 1908 Old-Lore Misc. I. viii. 312:
The bairns were “plootsin an' japplin idda burn”.Sh. 1962 New Shetlander No. 60. 26:
He felt is blyde an happy is a bairn wi a new peenie plootchin i da burn.

II. n. Gen. in pl., the feet, esp. when bare (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Ork. 1929 Marw.; Sh. 1958); “mockingly or jokingly, esp. a large clumsy foot” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), plut). Dim. forms ploutsack (Edm.), plutsek, ploitsek, plötek (Jak.), ploot(s)ick (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 176), plütshik (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.), pluttick (Sh. 1966), id. Also jocularly of clumsy shoes (Sh. 1966). Deriv. pluti, a nickname for a club-footed man (Jak.).Sh. 1886 J. Burgess Sk. and Poems 19:
Eating his meals at the same table, and warming his “ploots” at the same fire as Liza.