Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
GOOLDIE, n. Also gouldie, -y. [′gu:ldɪ]
1. The goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis (Sc. 1825 Jam., gooldie; Bwk. 1889 G. Muirhead Birds Bwk. I. 148; Lnk. 1897 Annals Sc. Nat. Hist. 207, gouldie; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Arg., Ayr., Gall., Dmf., s.Sc. 1954). Also in n.Eng. dial.Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 238:
Sending down a shower o' yellow leaves frae the aishen tree, like a flight o' gouldies.Dmf. 1822 Scots Mag. (June) 754:
The hawks ha'e herried my gouldie nest, And gorlines I'll ha'e nane.Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 261:
We've . . . watch'd the gooldie bring the doon to big her nestie wee.Clc. 1860 J. Crawford Doric Lays 75:
Twa hours an' mair the gouldie's lilt I've heard sae shrill and sweet.n.Sc. 1867 N. Macleod Starting xiii.:
But our ain birds . . . that's maavies, linties, and laverocks, or even gooldies.
2. A species of lady-bird, genus Coccinella. Cf. goold granny s.v. Goold.w.Sc. 1879 J. Napier Folk-Lore 116:
To possess a gooldie was considered very lucky.
