Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
STORY, n. Also storey, storee, storrie, stori- and in comb. stori-wirm, storey-worm, the grub of the crane-fly or daddy-longlegs, Tipula (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., storey-worm, 1914 Angus Gl., stori; I.Sc., Cai. 1971). [′store]Sh. 1773 Diary Rev. J. Mill (S.H.S.) 39:
Supposing the seed to have been destroyed by the Story worm.Cai. 1795 J. Sinclair Agric. N. Highl. 193:
The Storee, which destroy the young plants of barley and oats, by cutting the roots below the ground.Sh. 1895 Trans. Highl. Soc. VII. 396:
Corn braird injured to considerable extent by grub (locally called “storey”).Sh. 1959 New Shetlander No. 52. 30:
Take a mossy peat, cut a cavity in it, and fill this with as many story-wirms as it will hold. Lay a stone upon it, wait for a favourable off-shore wind, and set the peat adrift on loch or sea. Every story-wirm will disappear from the infested rig.