Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†BUTTERY BENJIE, n.comb. A nickname for a first-year student at Aberdeen University (Abd. 1854 Blackwood's Mag. (Oct.) 433). [The second element is a corrupted dim. form of Bejan. For the first cf. Buttery Willie Collie s.v. Collie, n.1, 3. There is poss. some allusion to a tavern nicknamed the Buttery College owned by one Butter near Slains in Abd., which was jocularly said to award degrees in toping. See J. Watson Choice Coll. (1711) III. 56.]
