Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BROLTIE, n. Also broltie teeting, skitter broltie.

1. The corn bunting, Emberiza miliaria.Ork. 1910 J. Firth in Old-Lore Misc., Ork., Sh., etc. III. iii. 135:
The bird called Skitter Broltie in Orkney is the Common or Corn Bunting. . . . Other names given to it in Orkney are the Broltie Teeting, and the Thistle Cock.

2. “A short, thick-set person is dubbed in Orkney a broltie” (Ib.).