Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
SPARTY, n. Reduced form of esparto. Cf. obs. Eng. sparto, id.Ags. 1960 Dundee Courier (16 April) 6:
His [a scare-crow's] “slaves” had to be tied to his “shaakuls” with “buts o' sparty”.Ags. 1995 Courier 18 Mar :
"I remember the recipe [for a tattie-bogle] was also a good lesson in old Scots words. ... First you need a neep for his head, a bannet for his pow, ... and then his slaives have to be tied to his shakkles with bits of sparty. ..."
