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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.

FUTRAT, n. Also futtrat, fut(t)(e)ret, -rit; futterad, futterag, futtercat (Cai.). n.Sc. forms of Whitrat, q.v. See P.L.D. §§ 59, 134.

1. The weasel, Mustela nivalis (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 57; n.Sc. 1953). Also attrib. Hence futtret-faced, having thin sharp features.Abd. 1900 C. Murray Hamewith 7:
The grey-tailed futt'rat bobbit oot to hear his ain strathspey.Kcd. 1933 “L. G. Gibbon” Cloud Howe 48:
Here he was standing, fierce as a futret.Bch. 1941 C. Gavin Black Milestone ii.:
Her daughters . . . she dismissed as “nyatterin' futtret-faced things — their granny ower again.”Abd. 1952 L. Starr To Please myself Again 31:
Frae that day tae this I canna stand the secht o' a stoat, no, nor yet a futteret.m.Sc. 1994 John Burns in James Robertson A Tongue in Yer Heid 25:
He lookt up an saw ... Tam wi his wizent wee futret face scruncht up ablow his bunnet. Abd. 1996 Sheena Blackhall Wittgenstein's Web 8:
"Neil Rannoch his tae feed his dad's futterats an chuckens the nicht, an hie winted tae gang fushin at the Dookin Puil insteid. ... "

2. Fig.: a thin, small hatchet-faced person (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 57), sometimes used as a term of endearment (Id.), but gen. implying one of an alert, active, ferrety disposition (ne.Sc. 1953).Abd. 1865 G. Macdonald Alec Forbes lxx.:
I cudna gar a bonnie, high-born, white-handit leddy fa' in love wi' a puir futteret o' a crater.

†3. A squirrel.ne.Sc. 1903 G. Sim Fauna of “Dee” 65:
By the country people it [the squirrel] was known by the name of Ferret, Futteret, and Fumart, and any enquiry regarding it under its proper name would not be understood.