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: 1827-1832, 1883
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SPARKIE, adj. Also sparky. Sc. usages: emitting sparks (Abd., Kcd. 1971). Also fig. bright in understanding, sharp, quick-witted; lively (Per. 1971).Sc. 1827 Carlyle Ger. Romance II. 298:
The archivarius caught these lilies blazing in sparky fire and dashed them on the witch.Abd. 1832 W. Scott Poems 86:
Indeed, I'm sparkie i' the whole affair, That it was curstness, I can say nae mair.Sc. 1883 W. W. Peyton Life H. Miller 21:
Few like him for sport, a stirring, sparkie callant.
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"Sparkie adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 4 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/sparkie>
