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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

COAT, COT, COTT, n. Sc. uses and forms of Eng. coat. Also dim. coatie. See also Quyte. [kɔt, ko(ə)t Sc.; kʊət s.Sc.]

1. A woman's or child's petticoat; a skirt. Obs. in literary Eng., although still much used in Eng. dial. Gen. in pl. Gen.Sc.Sh. 1928 T. Shewan in Manson's Shet. Almanac 187:
Dis young witless lasses wi' . . . cots ta dir hochs, an' heads clippid ta da bon.Cai.(D) 1909 D. Houston 'E Silkie Man 4:
She's on wi' 'ir blue coat an' short goon.Abd.(D) 1917 C. Murray Sough o' War 25:
There's me, fan but a bairn in cotts, nae big aneuch to herd, Would seener steek my nieves an' fecht, than dook or ca' my gird.Edb. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick xii.:
It's eneuch to scunner a body to see the way they carry on . . . plaistered a' ower wi' cheap lace an' ribbons, an' their coats trauchlin in the glaur ahint them.Kcb. 1894 S. R. Crockett Raiders v.:
“Mistress Allison, tak' care; I doot it [a rat]'s run in aboot your coaties!” she cried.

2. Phrases: (1) on ane's ain coat-tail(s), forced to pay one's own way; independent(ly); (2) to kilt the coats (used pass.), to gae coats kilted, of a woman: to be pregnant (Lnk.³ 1936). .(1) Sc. 1818 Scott Rob Roy xiv.:
I never gang to the yill-house — that is, unless ony neighbour was to gie me a pint . . . but to gang there on ane's ain coat-tail is a waste o' precious time and hard-won siller.Fif. 1887 “S. Tytler” Logie Town III. v.:
You are an orphan lass on your ain coat-tails.Fif. 1894 W. D. Latto Tammas Bodkin, Swatches o' Hodden-Grey xxii.:
He wad be ready to gang the length o' advancin' a few notes to set me up in business on my ain coat-tail.(2) Fif.¹⁰ 1936:
Ay, her coats are kilted again.Dmf. 1810 R. H. Cromek Rem. Nithsd. and Gall. Song 60:
The Laird spake to Kimmer for his barren ladie, An' soon gaed my Ladie coats kilted fu' hie.