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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.

TWEETIESHEE, int. Also tweetanshae (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.), tweeti-, tweeteeshee, tweety-, tweetesee. An exclamation of contempt or anger, freq. used as a malediction, confound —, damn — (Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 111, 1952 Robertson and Graham Sh. Grammar 19, Sh. 1973), or to avert bad luck. Also used as a v., to imprecate, call curses down on.Sh. 1910 Old-Lore Misc. III. i. 37:
Did we chance to use a land-word when at sea our skipper would look at us, as only a haf-man could look, and with a spittle following he would say — “twee-te-see-dee, boy!”
Sh. 1948 New Shetlander (Aug.-Sept.) 9:
I sall be fir my nain wye o spaekin, in tweeteeshee dem dat wid be fir pitting hit doon!
Sh. 1958 New Shetlander No. 47. 10:
Of warring politicians she says, “Tweety shee da baand!”

[The formation prob. represents a collocation of O.N. tví and the synonymous svei, fie upon, as O.N. *tví þér svei þér, fie on you, out on you, the sound representing and often accompanied by a spit.]

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