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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FEDDER, n., v. Also feddir, f(a)edir (Sh.). Sc. (now only I., nn. and mn.Sc.) forms of Eng. feather. See P.L.D. §§ 135, 165. Adj. feddery.

Sc. forms of Eng. feather.

1.m.Sc. 1988 William Neill Making Tracks 90:
The phaisie is a pleisure an a joy ...
An yit, for aw his bonnie fedders thare
the twalbore gentrie dinna muckle care.Sh. 1991 William J. Tait in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 45:
Whaar my niest stramp mycht faa, what rod
My wilt stravaigin fit mycht tak,
A feddir in a mirkabrod;
Whin every waa at croes me in
Rins tae hits aishins i da staars

Sc. noun usages:

2. A fin-shaped projection on the sock of a plough (I., ne.Sc. 1951). ɪn Sh. also the cutting wing of a Tuskar (Sh.¹⁰ 1951). See Feather.Sh. 1899 Shetland News (13 May):
“Dere doo sees, Sibbie, what laek da tuskir is,” I said, as I grippid up da faedir o'm 'at fell upo' da flüer wi' a rattle whin I tried to stick him aff o' da haft.Abd. 1951 Buchan Observer (20 Feb.):
The sock was still the share or sock, and it bore its fedder or feather.

3. A sheep mark, “a narrow bit cut off each side of the ear, leaving the middle standing” (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Sh.¹⁰ 1951). See Feather, v. 3., Fidder, n.²

4. The paddles of a horizontal mill-wheel (Sh. 1951).Sh. 1882 Gentleman's Mag. 370:
Dey said 'at da Nyugl wid stop da water mills. He wid grip hed o' da fedirs o' da tirl an' stop da mill.

5. Combs.: (1) fedder lichtie, one who is as light as a feather, lit. and fig. (Bnff.², Abd.¹⁵ 1946); (2) feddery craw, a toy made by sticking a potato or similar round object full of feathers and getting it propelled along the ground by the wind (Sh.¹¹ 1951); also, occasionally, a badminton shuttlecock (Id.).