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.
Quotation dates: 1821, 1881-1882
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TROTTLE, v. Also trootle (Ayr. 1825 Jam.), trutle (Dmf., Id.), truitle (Sh.).
1. To toddle, walk with short quick steps, e.g. of a child learning to walk (Ayr., Dmf. 1825 Jam.; Abd. 1915; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Also fig. and transf. of liquid: to ripple, flow, glide.w.Lth. 1881 H. Shanks Musings 345:
I'll gar a brimming bumper trottle To you, my friend.Lnk. 1882 A. Nimmo Songs 157:
Keep thy clatherin' tongue That trottles in thy head.
2. To dawdle, idle, waste one's time (Kcb. 1921 T.S.D.C., truitle; sm.Sc. 1973).
3. To simmer, to bubble in boiling.Ags. 1821 J. Ross Peep at Parnassus 16:
The cauthron trottelt on the sods.
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"Trottle v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/trottle_v>
