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.
Quotation dates: 1706, 1774-1898, 1952-1990
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TROUT, n., v. Also troot. Dim. trootie, deriv. trootlum. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. trout. [trut]
I. n.
Sc. form of Eng. trout.m.Sc. 1982 Olive Fraser in Hamish Brown Poems of the Scottish Hills 93:
Nae fit gangs ayont Caiplich,
Nae herd in the cranreuch bricht.
The troot o' the water o' Caiplich
Dwells deep the nicht.Per. 1990 Betsy Whyte Red Rowans and Wild Honey (1991) 66:
'Oh aye. They are all as healthy as wee troots,' Jean answered. 'It's just that we couldn't get a fire lighted. The sticks are too wet, but it's fine and dry inside the tents.'
Sc. usages:
1. Phr. and Combs.: (1) there's a trout(ie) i' the wall, -well, applied to a woman expecting a child, esp. if illegitimate (Fif. c.1850 Peattie MS.; Abd. 1967); (2) troot huvie, a basket-work trap for trout (I.Sc. 1973). See Huvie; (3) trout loup, a cascade or waterfall in a river which ascending trout surmount by leaping. See Lowp, n., 3.(1) Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick xxii.:
Tae jaloose, lang afore she wan 'e linth o' her cryin, at 'ere micht be a troot i' the wall.(2) Sh. 1898 W. Clark Northern Gleams 21:
He taught us to make ships, . . . manufacture troot-huvies and sillock-pocks.(3) Dmf. 1836 A. Cunningham Lord Roldan I. x.:
The bonnie trout loups and the Fairy-cave filled up wi' water to move wabster's shuttles.
2. Freq. in dim. form, used as a term of endearment to a child (Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 272; Bnff., Abd., Per., Ayr., Dmf. 1973). Comb. trootie-moolich, id. (Abd. 1921 T.S.D.C.); moolich may represent an extended use of Muild, n.1, 3., but see also Mooly, Mullach.Mry. 1865 W. Tester Poems 184:
I'se tak a nap as weel As you, my dainty trooty.Abd. 1898 J. R. Imray Sandy Todd x.:
Sae be it than, Mary, my trootie, for't is a bonnie, bonnie name, an' tho' I hae aften wuss't tae ca' ye't afore, I didna like tae dae't seein' that I didna ken foo ye micht tak' it.Abd. 1955 W. P Milne Eppie Elrick vi., xxx.:
Come awa noo' trootlum. . . . Oot o' the gait noo' troots.
¶3. As a term of contempt.Ags. 1894 A. Reid Songs 71:
Gang back the road ye cam', ye nirly troot.
II. v. 1. To catch trout, gen. in vbl.n. trouting, trout-fishing, also attrib.; agent n. trouter, a trout-fisher. Now also in Eng.Sc. 1706 Earls Crm. (Fraser 1876) II. 7:
The best fowler and trouter in Scotland.Sc. 1774 Erskine Institute ii. ix. § 13:
Depriving him of the pleasures of trouting.Sc. 1806 Gazetteer Scot. s.v. Venny:
It is a fine trouting stream.Sc. 1834 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) IV. 98:
Tellin him I had had grand trootin.Sh. 1952 J. Hunter Taen Wi Da Trow 72:
Troo da day da trooters aft Her ripplin surface tresh wi leid.
2. Transf. To pick out dry sheaves from shocks of corn in rainy weather, sc. like fishing for trout after rain (Abd. 1921 T.S.D.C.); to pick out extraneous matter from any substance (Abd. 1973).
[O.Sc. trout, v., 1629.]
