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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PIRR, n.², v. Also †pirrhe.

I. n. 1. A gentle breath of wind, a light breeze (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 175, 1914 Angus Gl.; Sh., ne.Sc. 1966); a ripple on water (Sh. 1966). Dim. pirrie, id. Found in Eng. dial. in form pirrie, perry. Also fig.Fif. 1831 Fife Herald (18 Aug.):
And were they [corn fields] to be visited with a pirr of wind, . . . the result would be seriously felt.Sh. 1891 J. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 115:
As da pirr o memry, blaain, Frae mi een da skub aa clears.Fif. 1894 J. Geddie Fringes of Fife 134:
To sigh . . . in vain for a “pirrhe” of wind.Sh. 1918 T. Manson Peat Comm. 45:
A gentle “pirr” of wind to keep the heat from becoming oppressive.Abd. 1954 Buchan Observer (23 Nov.):
A gey pirrie o' win' an flans o' shooers skilpin roon wir lugs at 'e plooin.Sh. 1994 Laureen Johnson in James Robertson A Tongue in Yer Heid 169:
I raise an lookit oot da window. Dey wir a pirr o wind apo da voe, makkin a shadow on da sea.

2. A sudden access of activity, specif. (1) a burst of energy, a vigorous onslaught (on a task, etc.). Hence pirrie, -y, of persons: given to sudden bursts of activity, unpredictable, unsteady, unreliable (Sh. 1966).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 127:
He gangs till's wark wee a pirr.Sh. 1924 T. Manson Peat Comm. 178:
Dis man is ower muckle laek da nor-wast wind — he's too pirrie . . . wan time strong an da next time nearly awey.

(2) a harassed, over-excited state of mind, a flurry, panic, rage (I. and ne.Sc. 1966).Bwk. 1856 G. Henderson Pop. Rhymes 127:
When one is in a pirr about things which do not go well.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 127:
The gueedewife geed intil an unco pirr fin the laird cam t' see 'ir.

(3) a fit of temper, a sudden rage, a “fizz”, a fit of pique (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 127; Mry. 1925; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Rxb. 1942 Zai; I. and ne.Sc., Bwk., s.Sc. 1966); a fretful, irritable person (Rxb. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XI. 142). Adj. pirrie, -y, quick-tempered, touchy, easily annoyed (Rxb. a.1838 Ib., 1923 Watson W.-B.; Bwk., Rxb. 1966); prim, precise (Bwk. 1825 Jam.); hence pirrie-tempered, id. (Watson), pirriness, irascibility, touchiness (Ib.).Bwk. 1880 T. Watts Woodland Echoes 100:
An' troth! she was a pirrie quean.Bnff. 1923 Banffshire Jnl. (29 May) 5:
I tell ye fat it is, I canna unnerstan' fock gettin' intill a pirr o' that kin'.Mry. 1931 J. Geddie Characters 166:
Moggie picked it up and in a “pirr,” threw it back again.Ork. 1956 C. M. Costie Benjie's Bodle 94:
There steud Peggy in as proper a pirr as iver I saa her in, cheust dancan wae maderam.

II. v. 1. Of a liquid; to ripple; “to flow with force in a small stream, to stream” (Cld. 1880 Jam.; Sh., Uls. 1966); of persons, animals, vehicles, etc.: to bowl or whirr along. Hence pirrie and reduced form pirr, adj., having a springy, tripping gait, spanking along (Bwk. 1825 Jam.); gaily dressed, trim, well turned-out (Ib.).Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 383:
Blood is said to pirr from the wound made by a lancet. . . . A girl is said to look pirr when gaily dressed.Dmf. 1850 J. W. Carlyle in L. & E. Hanson Necessary Evil (1952) 404:
The little snaffle of a messin called Nero commonly goes with me, runs snuffling into every hole, or pirrs about at my side like a little glassy rat.Dmf. 1852 J. W. Carlyle Letters (Bliss 1949) 231:
I started myself, in a little gig, with a brisk little horse, and silent driver. Nothing could be more pleasant than so pirring thro' quiet roads.Sc. 1935 W. Soutar Poems in Scots 33:
A' the seepin' sap, like bluid, Pirr'd saftly frae the cankert wud.

2. Of a breeze: to blow gently (Sh. 1966). Ppl.adj. pirrin(g); fresh, blowing lightly.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 62:
Careerin' on the pirrin' breeze, A greedy gled.Sh. 1901 T. P. Ollason Mareel 58:
He'll be pirrin' up a grain by an' bye, an' he's nae time o' nicht geen yet.

3. To tremble with anger, to be in a fearful temper, to “fizz” with rage (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Sh. 1966).Ork. 1956 C. M. Costie Benjie's Bodle 159:
He cam' back cheust pirran . . . and flang them [books] at first een an' than anither.