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.
Quotation dates: 1705, 1798-1828, 1886-1926
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PUPPIE, n.1 Also puppy-; popp(e)y. In combs. puppie-play, poppy-show, a puppet-show, a Punch-and-Judy show or similar entertainment principally for children (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., puppy-). Also in Eng. dial.; hence any display or spectacle, esp. a ludicrous one. Phr. to mak a puppy-show o' anesel, to make oneself look a fool, make an exhibition of oneself (em.Sc.(a), wm.Sc. 1967), make oneself conspicuous.Sc. 1705 Foulis Acct. Bk. (S.H.S.) 413:
To the bairns and servants to see the puppie play yisterday . . . 5s. 0d.Edb. 1798 D. Crawford Poems 88:
You'd mak a noble poppey-show.Ags. 1826 A. Balfour Highland Mary I. xi.:
An' you hae nae a wish to kiss the causey, an' dinna want to make a poppy-show o' yoursel', you'll never offer to take it [horse] that length.m.Lth. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch vii.:
They let me in with a grudge for twopence . . . to see a punch and puppie-show business.Hdg. 1886 J. P. Reid Facts & Fancies 43:
It was there we used to gather floo'ers to mak' a poppy-show.Abd. 1926 Buchan Observer (April):
A preen tae see the poppy show, A preen tae see it a', A preen tae see the little mannie Dancin' on the wa'.
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"Puppie n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 8 Jan 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/puppie_n1>
