Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1787-1937
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NORIE, n.1 Also norrie, nor(r)y. [′nore]
1. A whim, caprice, fancy, an odd notion (Dmf. 1899 Country Schoolmaster (Wallace) 351; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; em. and s.Sc. 1964).Edb. 1787 W. Taylor Poems 5:
Let nae daft norie sae bias us.Slk. 1818 Hogg B. of Bodsbeck i.:
What can hae put sic a norie i' your head as that?Rxb. 1826 A. Scott Poems 44:
Ye gar me laugh, an' ferly sair indeed, To think sic nonnies [sic] e'er could tak' your head.Rxb. 1876 W. Brockie Leaderside Legends 22:
But as for yer witch an' bogle stories, Wull thocht them naething else but norries.Ayr. 1892 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 214:
'Twas the reckless inward goad O' norries sent my banes abroad.Slg. 1896 W. Harvey Kennethcrook 21:
A disgrace that twa decent men should be thrown idle to please the norrie o' twa-three idle folk.Lnk. 1910 C. Fraser Glengonnar 66:
I juist lauch up my sleeve at a lot o' his norries.
2. Trifling or useless ornaments, gew-gaws.Sc. 1929 Sc. Observer (31 Oct.) 16:
Fills the hoose wi' norries like cheena dougs.Sc. 1937 Oor Mither Tongue (MacWhannell) 89:
But maist they like my gibble box Filled fu' o' glitterin' norries.
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"Norie n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/norie_n1>
