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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

CURRIE-WURRIE, n. and v. comb.

1. n. A violent dispute (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 35; Bnff.2, Abd.2, Ags.17, Slg.3, Lnk.111941); “intermeddling, snarling, gurring with one another, partly in frolic, partly in earnest, provoking a quarrel” (Upper Deeside 1917 (per Abd.3)). Also used attrib.Ayr. 1821 Edb. Mag. (April) 351:
Thae . . . critics get up wi' sic lang-nebbit gallehooings . . . kippelt wi' as mony smuttit currie-wurrie rants, as wad gar ane that's no frequant wi' them trow they ettlit to mak' a bo-keek o' them.

2. v. “To dispute violently about a thing” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 35). Vbl.n. currie-wurriean; ppl.adj. currie-wurriein', “peevish; fretful; querulous” (Ib.).Ib.:
The wives haud a currie-wurriean aboot that thing nae ordinar.
Bnff.2 1942:
Jeems an' his wife dinna gree; they currie-wurrie wi' een anither like fechtin cats.

[Prob. Cur(rie)-, pref., + Wurr, to growl like a dog, as in Gurry-wurry, a dog-fight, but cf. Kirrywery, a charivari.]

Currie-wurrie n., v. comb.

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