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: 1822, 1896-1898
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UNCLE, n. Also ¶unkl (Sc. 1822 Baron of Brackley in Child Ballads No. 203 A.xxi.). Sc. form and usages: 1. Combs.: (1) Uncle Geordie, a nickname for the devil; (2) Uncle Tom, a children's singing game, so called from the first line of a rhyme chanted during the game (see quot.).(1) Kcb. 1896 65th Report Brit. Ass. 9:
To find out who was to be her husband, the young woman took an apple in one hand and a lighted candle in the other on Hallowe'en, and placed herself in front of a mirror, and then ate the apple in the name of 'Uncle Geordie' i.e. the devil.(2) Nai., Kcb. 1898 A. B. Gomme Trad. Games II. 322:
'Uncle Tom is very sick, what shall we send him? A piece of cake, a piece of bread, a piece of apple dumpling. . . .' The players stand in a row. They sing the first five lines, then one player is chosen (who chooses another); the other lines are sung, and the two shake hands.
¶2. Deriv. uncly, adj., pertaining to an uncle, avuncular.Ayr. 1822 Galt Entail lxx.:
But for the uncly duty he has fulfilled towards you, ye would this night hae been a bare lad?