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.
VIRGIN MARY, n. comb. Sc. usages: 1. The ladybird, Coccinella (Bnff. 1966). Cf. Eng. lady- = the Madonna; †2. Virginmary's nut, the molucca bean, the seed of the Guilandina crista.w.Sc. 1703 M. Martin Descr. W. Islands 39:
All his Cows gave blood instead of Milk. . . . One of the Neighbours told his wife that this must be Witchcraft, and it would be easy to remove it, if she would but take the White Nut, called the Virgin Maries Nut and lay it in the Pale into which she was to milk the cows.
