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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

RUFFIE, n.2 Also ruffy; roughy. A cant or slang term for the Devil (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Ayr. 1968). Also Auld Roughy.Per. 1835 J. Monteath Dunblane Trad. (1887) 50:
He [the Devil] was familiarly known at Parson Leys by the appellation of “Auld Roughy”.

[O.Sc. Ruffy, a name for a devil or fiend, a.1500, a reduced or variant form of Mid. or cant Eng. ruffin, id., also in cant vocab.]

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