Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

TICKLE, v.¹ Sc. usages:

1. As in Eng. Sc. derivs. and comb.: (1) agent n. tickler, (i) an amusing person, a comic; (ii) the clapper of a mill-hopper (Abd. 1950); (2) comb. tickle-tails, adv., of a row of skaters, etc.: grasping the one in front. The word has prob. been assimilated to tickle from the orig. Tichle, Tuckle.(1) (i) Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 214:
Aul Gaut's wife was wan o' the greatest ticklers as could be.(ii) Abd. 1948 Huntly Express (16 Jan.):
Here's tae the haus an' the tickler.(2) Sc. 1821 Blackwood's Mag. (Aug.) 36:
Another game played by a number of children, with a hold of one another, or tickle-tails, as it is technically called in Scotland, is ‘Through-the-needle-e'e'.

2. To puzzle, perplex (Abd. 1825 Jam.; Cai. 1905 E.D.D.; Sh., Abd., em.Sc. (a), Lnk., sm.Sc. 1972). Hence tickler, a problem, puzzle, perplexing matter (Abd. 1825 Jam.). Gen.Sc.; ticklie, -y, puzzling, difficult (Abd. 1825 Jam.; Cai. 1905 E.D.D.; Abd. 1972).wm.Sc. 1854 Laird of Logan 488:
Figures, with all their powers, from addition upwards; and many a tickler, in the latter department, has our head ached with.Mry. 1865 W. Tester Poems 47:
I've got ye out, but it tickles my brain How the deuce I'm to pitch ye in again.Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 174:
How do you steer then, my lad? that's the tickler.