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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.

TROT, n.¹, v. Also trott. Dim. trottie.

Sc. usages:

I. n. 1. As in Eng., a short quick pace. Sc. phrs.: (1) back-door trot, a euphemism for diarrhoea (Ork., ne.Sc., Per., Ayr. 1973); (2) kittle in the trot, short-tempered; (3) short in the trot, on short trot, id. (ne.Sc. 1973). See also Short, adj., 3.; (4) to be on trottie, to be in a bad humour (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 200). Cf. (3).(1) Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick xxi.:
Afflickit wi an antrin turnie o' the back door trot.(2) Abd. 1898 J. R. Imray Sandy Todd 65:
I'm sometimes gey an' kittle in the trot.(3) Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxxvii.:
That winna dee to be so short i' the trot.Abd. 1952 Huntly Express (26 Dec.):
He was short in the trot until you found him a spade, a pail or a ladder as necessity demanded.

2. The fall, angle or run on a drain (see quot.).Fif. 1957:
If a man laying a drain were asked “Hoo muckle trot dae ye hae on it?”, he might reply “A quarter inch in the yard”, and be told “Aye, ye'll need that trot on it”.

II. v. 1. As in Eng., to move at a quick steady pace. Agent n. trotter in phr. wi' trotter speed, at great speed, very quickly, but poss. a corruption of trottin speed, or trot o' speed.Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems 242:
He wad ha'e lat you scour your wa's, Wi' trotter speed.

2. Of water: to flow rapidly and noisily, to purl, ripple. Ppl.adj. trottin, babbling.Sc. 1724 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) V. 160:
Hard by this trotting Burnie let us Lean.Ayr. 1785 Burns To W. Simpson xv.:
Adown some trottin burn's meander.Rxb. 1821 A. Scott Poems 180:
Past my door trots a clear prattlin rill.Lnk. 1865 J. Hamilton Poems 89:
Ahint the hoose, a trottin' burnie.

‡3. To play truant from school (Cai. 1905 E.D.D.). Hence trotter, a truant (Cai. 1911 Scotsman (23 Dec.)).