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.
PUTTOCK, n. Also puttick. The buzzard, Buteo buteo (Dmf. 1889 Trans. Dmf. & Gall. Antiq. Soc. 152, 1910 H. S. Gladstone Birds Dmf. 188). Obs. in Eng. exc. dial. The attribution of this usage to Dmf. is somewhat doubtful and seems to be based on the apparent occurrence of the word in the place-name Craigenputtock in Dmf., well-known as the home of the Carlyles.Dmf. 1866 Carlyle Reminiscences (1881) II. 157:
“Craigenputtick, or the stone mountain,” “Craig” of the “Puttick,” puttick being a sort of hawk, both in Galloway speech and in Shakspeare's old English.
