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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.

DANDIE, DANDI, Dandy, Dand, v., n. [′dɑnd(i)]

1. v. To keep moving a fishing-line up and down in the water, esp. in herring fishing (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), dandi, dand; 1914 Angus Gl.; Bnff.² 1943).Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
To sit dandiin wi' de line or wand [rod].

2. n.pl. = Comb. (2) below (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 36, dandies; Bnff.² 1939; Abd.²³ 1948.)

3. Combs.: (1) dandie-hanger, a handline (Bnff. 1916 T.S.D.C. II.; Bnff.⁹ c.1927); (2) dandie-han'lin, “a line with a series of brass rods attached thereto by a clove hitch knot, the lowest rod being about 15 inches long, each of the upper rods being 2 or 3 inches shorter than the one below. At the lower end of the line a leaden sinker is attached. Hooks are fastened to the rods. The apparatus is let down in a shoal of herrings and pulled up with a jerk, herrings being caught on the hooks” (Bnff.⁶ c.1915); also given by Gregor D. Bnff. (1866) 36 and known to Bnff.² 1939; (3) dandi-line, dandy-, a line used for dandying (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); 1914 Angus Gl.; Bnff.² 1939).(2) Bnff.⁶ c.1915:
A'll tak ma dandie-han'lin' wi ma, an' A'll maybe get a fry o' herrin fin we're at the fishin' grun.(3) Sc. 1946 Abd. Press and Jnl. (2 July):
The surface of the sea presented a solid mass of herring when a dense shoal appeared off Portskerra, in North Sutherland. Village fishermen had no herring nets, but reverted to the primitive method of fishing with dandy lines, consisting of ripper and hooks.Abd. 1882 F. Day Fishes II. 215:
The “dandy-line” is used in herring fishery at Peterhead.