Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HEATHERIE, -Y, adj. Also hed(de)ry. Covered with, made from heather; having the appearance of heather; hence, rough, dishevelled; mountain-bred. Gen.Sc.

Comb. heatherie-head, (one with) a tousled or shaggy head of hair (Sc. 1825 Jam., ne.Sc., ‡Per., Rxb. 1956). Ppl.adj. -headit. Cf. Heather, 5. (16) and Hudderie.Sc. 1710 Philosoph. Trans. XXVII. 296:
The Surface is covered with a heathy, and (as they call it) a heathery Scurf.Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 239:
Minds that can mount with an uncommon Wing, And frae black heath'ry headed Mountains sing.Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems 87:
Afore he us'd to bare his hedry pow, Where'er we met, and mak' an awkward bow.Wgt. 1804 R. Couper Poems I. 158:
Your [Scotland's] heath'ry sons ha'e bluid aneugh To gild an honest crown.Peb. 1805 J. Nicol Poems I. 98:
Thro' cowslip banks, an' heathrie braes.Sc. 1859 Royal Caled. Curling Club Ann. 225:
On Mistilaw the snaw is meltin', His heatherie haffets kythe black in the win', An' the rain has begun a-peltin'.Sc. 1892 Trans. Highl. Soc. 39:
My farm is very heathery.Bnff. 1924 Swatches o' Hamespun 37:
I'se awa te yon lithe heddery-neuk in the craw-widdie.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 18:
A hantle heh the twaesome [hills] seen sin the beacons war kuittelt on ther heathery pows.Abd.¹⁵ 1940:
Wi' her hair a' birsed up like a heddery besim.