Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

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?