Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
SCURDIE, n. Also scurdy, skurdy. A kind ofwhinstone or basalt, specif. of a class of rock intrusive into the old red sandstone of Kcd. and Ags. (Ags. 1969). Also attrib. [′skʌrdi]n.Sc. 1789 J. Williams Min. Kingdom I. 71:
Basaltine rocks are called skurdy in the north of Scotland.Ags. 1795 Stat. Acc.1 XIX. 376:
There is also abundance of the stone vulgarly called scurdie, the same which is commonly known by the name of whin in the western parts of Scotland, and used for paving streets.Kcd. 1845 Stat. Acc.2 XI. 3:
A few patches of trap, provincially called scurdy.Ags. 1881 Trans. Highl. Soc. 86:
Mostly black loam on trap, or “scurdy” rock.
