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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quotation dates: 1844, 1899, 1964

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WEIRDIE, n. Also -y, werdie, weardie. The smallest or least thriving of a brood of animals, esp. pigs, or birds (Fif. 1808 Jam.; Per., Slg., Clc., Knr., Fif. 1973). [′wirdi, ′werdi]Clc. 1844 Poets Clc. (Beveridge 1885) 122:
To some of your weardies it would be a feast.
Sc. 1899 Mont.-Fleming 183:
The proverb, "Ilka nest has its werdie."
Fif. 1964 Scots Mag. (Feb.) 413:
Yin o' them jamp in the soo crave an' dunted the weirdy.

[Orig. doubtful, phs. a deriv. of Weird, n., 1., from the notion of ill-luck associated with stunted or deformed creatures.]

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