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.
PUDGE, n., v. Also podge. [pʌdʒ]
I. n. As in colloq. or dial. Eng., a small dumpy person or animal, a plump thick-set man or beast (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 132, 135, pudge, podge; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Ork., Cai., wm.Sc., Uls. 1967). Dim. or deriv. forms pudget, id. (Lth., Bwk. 1880 Jam.; ‡Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.), a heavy eater (Ib.), hence adj. pudgettie, short and fat, pot-bellied (Sc. 1825 Jam.); pudgick (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 135), pudgi(e) (Ib.; wm. and sm.Sc. 1880 Jam.; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Sh., Abd. 1966), pudgle, -el (Bnff., Abd., Slk. 1967), pudyal (Uls. a.1870 W. Lutton Montiaghisms (1924) 32), id., also attrib. = fat, tubby.Edb. 1788 Bk. Old Edb. Club XXIV. 23:
George Sandy exchanged his saw, Drawing Blad & Pudgy ruler for a Mahogany ruler.Bwk. c.1830 Minstrelsy Merse (Crockett 1893) 169:
Preekt, pauchty, pudgel loons!Gsw. 1868 J. Young Poems 62:
Thou wee fat pudgle o' a body.s.Sc. 1898 E. Hamilton Mawkin xviii.:
I'm no to be set by with pudgetie auld carles sic as you.Kcb. 1900:
A man with much unnecessary clothing on is a pudgel o' a bodie.
II. v. To walk with a short, heaving step, to roll in one's gait as a fat person might do (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 229, podge).
[The same word as Eng. podge, podgy, with sim. meanings, of uncertain orig. See note to Pud, n.1]
