Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

‡PIE-HOLE, n.comb. Also pye-. A hole made in fabric or leather to allow a lace or cord to pass through, an eyelet, lace-hole or the like (Sc. 1825 Jam.). Gen.Sc. Also in reduced form pie. In 1847 quot. an unintentional hole in a knitted fabric caused by a dropped stitch. [pɑe]Sc. 1737 Edb. Medical Essays IV. 318:
Having Pye-holes for passing the Lace through.Ags. 1777 Dundee Weekly Mag. (2 May) 295:
Thou looks throw thy nonsence [a quadrant] at twall a clok an I wad se as mukl throw the py ol o'my breeks at twall a clok at night.Ayr. 1821 Galt Ayr. Legatees v.:
Nannie was advancing to the requisite degree of perfection in chain steek and pie-holes.Sc. 1840 Chambers's Jnl. (13 June) 161:
The thongs of the shoes being drawn through pie-holes in the spatterdashes, and then tied down above them.Abd. 1847 Gill Binklets 56:
She called him up to her to have his stocking examined, which was found to be full of tint loops, pyeholes, and hanging hares [sic].Sh. 1898 “Junda” Klingrahool 45:
Dey hed aald bain soles for da shoddeen And peerie bress pies i da lugs.Sh. 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 25:
I can see da pie holes in his shün.Lth. 1956 Scotsman (10 March) 8:
A second [spider's] web inside the boot, immediately below the pie-holes in either side of the top of the leg.