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

PLUCKER, n. Also plukker, -ir.

1. The father-lasher, Cottus scorpius (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 176, 1899 Evans and Buckley Fauna Shet. 218; Cai. 1903 E.D.D.; Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), plukker, 1932 J. M. Saxby Trad. Lore 202; Sh., Cai. 1966); 2. the angler or fishing frog, Lophius piscatorius (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1908 Jak. (1928), plukker, 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1966). Also great plukker, id. (Jak.). Phr. as mad as a plucker (Cai. 1966).Sh. 1886 J. Burgess Sketches 72:
Arty sed somethin' ta Willie aboot a plucker smokin' a strae, an' dan they baith lookit at Aandrew an' lauched.Sh. 1901 T. P. Ollason Mareel 63:
Hit wis on record at da highest lift fir da past twa seasons wis seeven sillocks an' a plucker.Sh. 1958:
Children would catch pluckers and lay them on a peat with a piece of straw in their mouth. The fish's breath came out as steam and they said it was smoking.