Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

KILLIELEEPIE, n. Also killileepie (Sc. 1875 A. Smith Hist. Abdsh. I. 687), killyleepie (Lth. 1808 Jam.), killieleepsie (Lth. 1885 C. Swainson Brit. Birds 196). The common sandpiper, Tringa hypoleucos (Bwk. 1902 A. Thomson Lauder 287).Lnk. 1845 Stat. Acc.² VI. 771:
The beautiful and graceful kingfisher, and the common sandpiper or killileepie, are often to be seen.Sc. 1884 Chambers's Jnl. (12 July):
The call is that of the sandpiper — in some places known, from its cry, as the “little fiddler,” in others as the “killieleepie.”