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.
Quotation dates: 1880-1962
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SKURT, n. Also scurt; skort (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)); scoort (Cai.). [skʌrt, Cai. skurt]
1. The lap or bosom, the space enclosed by the body and the folded arms or clasped hands (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 201, 1914 Angus Gt.; Ork. 1929 Marw.; I.Sc. 1970). Also fig. Deriv. skurtfu, an armful (Ork. 1929 Peace's Almanac 140; I.Sc. 1970). Comb. skurt-clew, a ball of straw-rope large enough to be held in the clasped arms at full stretch (Sh. 1961).Sh. 1886 J. Burgess Sketches 111:
A scurtfu' o' butter sconns, an' sweeties.Sh. 1891 J. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 65:
Da sookin bairn i da skurt.Ork. 1908 Old-Lore Misc. I. viii. 31:
Sheu cinna fa' gracefully intill 'is skurt as ithers deu or sheu wad ding 'im ower.Sh. 1918 J. Nicolson Hentilagets 16:
It's niver a göd sign whin shö [new moon] lies on her back Wi de aald een richt in her skurt.Sh. 1962 New Shetlander No. 61. 13:
A scurt-fu o seggie-flooers.
2. An armful, as much as can be held between the body and the outstretched arms, with hands joined (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Sh., Ork., Cai. 1970).Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 139:
A skurt o' tang sheu h'aved on me.Sh. 1901 Shetland News (13 July):
He cam' oot wi' a skurt o' pound packages.Cai. 1961 Edb. John o' Groat Liter. Soc. 4:
He wis no chist himsel' We getheran' bags, an' scoorts o' perts.
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"Skurt n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 4 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/skurt>
