Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
TAIRT, n., adj. Also tert, †teart. [tert, tɛrt]
I. n. = Eng. tart, a pastry with filling (Sc. 1826 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 222; Abd. 1922 G. P. Dunbar Whiff o' Doric 15; tert Sh., Ork., Ags., Edb., Gsw., Ayr., Sh., Edb., Gsw., Ayr., Dmf.; tairt Bnff., Fif., Edb., Rxb., Bnff., Rxb. 2000s); a girlfriend (Edb. 1895 J. Tweeddale Moff xiii., 1964 J. T. R. Ritchie Singing Street 45), not connoting a prostitute (ne.Sc. 1930).Sc. 1875 A. Hislop Sc. Anecdotes 38:
He would have a “doo tert” [pigeon pie].Ags. 1957 Forfar Dispatch (26 Dec.):
She gets her tea; prees my mince-meat terts.Edb. 2004:
Wee, sweet tairts.
II. adj. = Eng. tart, sour, acid (Ayr. 1826 R. Hetrick Poems 44; Rxb. 1954 Hawick News (18 June) 7).m.Sc. 1988 William Neill Making Tracks 72:
Dae ye think yon Henley kent whit a kailyard wes?
Or aw thir ither expairts frae The Toun,
the Heich-Heid-Criticasters lukkin doun
thair nebs tae snirt et kintra chiels lik us
an runkle up a tairt an sharrow phiz?
