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.
PULT, n., v. Also polt (Marw.).
I. n. 1. A short stout dumpy person (Ork. 1929 Marw.; Ork., Per., Uls. 1967). Hence pultie, polty, stout, podgy. Also in n.Eng. dial.Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 145:
Pultie pedants, selfish, vainly prood O' what ye havena, yet fu' fain would have.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
A polty bit o' bairn — of a heavy baby.
2. “A dirty, ungraceful woman” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 135), a slattern.
II. v. With about: to slouch about in an idle, slothful manner, to go around with a dirty, neglected appearance (Gregor). Hence pultie, adj., lazy, dirty and neglected in appearance, good-for-nothing.
[Orig. uncertain. ? Variant of Eng. poult, a chicken, young child. Cf. Powt. It is not certain that all meanings belong to the same word.]
