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.
Quotation dates: 1826-1860, 1923
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ETTERY, adj. Also et(t)erie, et(t)rie, etry and see Aitrie, Attery. [′ɛt(ə)ri]
‡1. Purulent, exuding pus (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).
‡2. Fig. (1) Ill-humoured, bad-tempered, spiteful (Rxb. 1825 Jam.2, et(e)rie; 1923 Watson W.-B., ettery). Watson also gives the form yettery.Rxb. a.1860 J. Younger Autobiog. (1881) 250:
The poor creatures, Tibby and Christy, were indeed as cankered and etterie as nettles.
(2) Of weather: keen, bitter (Dmf., Rxb. 1825 Jam.2, et(e)rie, etry; Bnff.2 1944).Rxb. 1826 A. Scott Poems 36:
'Twas gurly winter, whan frae ow'r the Forth, Come ettrie blasts aft frae the scowling north.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
An ettery wund.
(3) Hot-headed, fiery, angry-looking (Dmf., Rxb. 1825 Jam.2; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).
[Etter, n. + -y, s.v.-ie, suff. Cf. O.E. ǣtrig, poisonous.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Ettery adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/ettery>
