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.
VERTIE, adj. Also verty, vairtie. [′vɛrte]
†1. Cautious, prudent. Now only arch.Abd. 1781 W. Edwards Poems (1810) 58:
Ye vertie wives, wha butter sell, Hard siller in your hans I'll tell.Sc. 1913 H. P. Cameron Imit. Christ iii. xlv.:
I hae been learned tae my cost, an' O that it wad mak me mair vertie an' no fuleish.
2. Energetic, active, esp. at an early hour of the day, early astir, up betimes and at work, early-rising (Abd. 1825 Jam., 1911 Abd. Weekly Jnl. (20 Jan.); Bnff., Abd. 1973). Also adv.Abd. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 2:
Archie fu' vertie, owre the moorlan' spangs.Abd. 1834 P. Buchan Peterhead Smugglers 63:
To gang wi' you to the links ilka morning at five o' clock to a round o' the golf. But ye're nae sae vertie now-a-days, Bailie.Abd. 1941 C. Gavin Black Milestone ii.:
They winna won ower the channel sae verty.Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick ii.:
He's unca verty this mornin. Fat'll be takkin him oot upon the rodd sae early?
