Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
TOT, v., n.3 Also tottie and reduplic. form tot-tot. [tɔt]
I. v. To walk with short, stumbling or feeble steps, to toddle as a young child, to totter from age or infirmity (Fif. (tottie), Ayr. 1825 Jam.; Lnk., Ayr. 1972). Ppl.adj. tottin, toddling. Also in Eng. dial. Adj. tottie, in-toed (Rs. 1972).Lth. 1810 G. Bruce Poems 173:
Wee totting Sandy stood close by my knee.Sc. 1833 Chambers's Jnl. (Aug.) 234:
Totting about, crying, ‘Grannie, do this,' and ‘Grannie, gie me that.'Ags. 1846 Arbroath Guide (19 Dec.) 4:
My bairnies twa wi' cherry cheeks Aye tottin' hand in hand wi' ither.Ayr. 1822 J. Hyslop Dream of a Masque 136:
Till owre life's gloamin' braes ye tot hirpelin' doon.Dmf. 1898 J. Paton Castlebraes 30:
He tots aboot there, frae Cot to Cot.Lnk. 1908 Gsw. Ballad Club III. 182:
Like the Piper o' Hamelin, enchanted, he draws The tot, tottin' wee things.Lnk. 1920 Border Mag. (June) 95:
Wee tottin' weans, men grown.
II. n. Only in phr. upon the tot, on the go' getting about.Gsw. 1860 J. Young Poorhouse Lays 98:
Thou'rt still upon the tot.
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Tot v., n.3". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 31 Oct 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/tot_v_n3>