Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 2005 (SND, online supplement).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CO-OPERATIVE, n. Co-operative Society shop. Also in reduced forms Co, the Co, co-opie (ne.Sc.), coopie (ne.Sc.).Gsw. 1985 Michael Munro The Patter 17:
Co., the Nickname for the Cooperative Society or one of its shops. When given its full title the prounciation often comes out as coaperative.Gsw. 1991 Anna Blair More Tea at Miss Cranston's 130:
There was the Co-op too. The Co. did well for those who were loyal to it and cocked a snook at those who looked down on it. ... "4114 was her number. Och, the Co. was an institution...Gsw. 1991 John Burrowes Mother Glasgow 222:
'Co-op ... what we call the 'Co'? Do you need to have your number to get a supply?'
He thought this a great joke and laughed aloud. Kavanagh laughed too. 'No, you'll not get this stuff at the 'Co', Sonny. Co-op is the name of the stuff we use when we can't get the other two. ... 'wm.Sc. 1991 Liz Lochhead Bagpipe Muzak 43:
I was embarrassed for My Mother. Dragging us up she had nothing ... nobody knew the heartache when wan of us grew out our shoes just when she had the Co dividend earmarked for something else ...Gsw. 1991 Anna Blair More Tea at Miss Cranston's 131:
The lady who was mortified at the idea of taking her custom to the Co. had an altogether more remote relationship with her grocer.Gsw. 1992:
I never use the Co now I aye just go to Gateway.ne.Sc. 1993 Press and Journal 22 May 18:
So he found the breadbin and pulled out two slices of Co-opie loaf and dropped them into the toaster and switched it on.Abd. 1993 Herald 26 May :
After almost 130 years of trading Aberdeen's most famous business, the Coopie, is on the brink of disappearing. Norco, the Northern Co-operative Society Limited, may merge with the Co-operative Wholesale Society which has already bought the flagship Berryden superstore.ne.Sc. 1996 Patricia Scott in Sandy Stronach New Wirds: An Anthology of Winning Poems and Stories from the Doric Writing Competitions of 1994 and 1995 42:
Liptons, The Maypole, The Coopie, the Supermercat forerinners hid arrived. The manager still kent aa his customers an raither mynt ye o a cockmaleerie in the fairmyard, impressin the chuckens.Gsw. 1997 David Kilby in Susie Maguire and David Jackson Young Hoots! 103:
I suppose I should've gone to the Co. but Gerry said he'd got connections and he could get it cheap.
