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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.

POD, n. Also pode (Uls.). The louse, Pediculus capitis (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 131).Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.:
Children are warned that if they do not allow their heads to be combed with a “fine tooth comb”, the podes will make ropes of their hair, and drag them into the sea and drown them.

[Orig. uncertain. The Uls. form suggests a connection with obs. Eng. pode, a toad, from the louse's similar appearance when magnified. The currency of the word in Bnff. is otherwise unauthenticated. If genuine, it may be a different word, phs. a variant of Pud, a squat, fat creature.]

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