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.
Quotation dates: 1722-1729, 1817-1826
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POUTRIE, n. Also poutry (Sc. 1896 Stevenson W. Hermiston v.; m.Sc. 1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood xii.), poutrey, pouttry (Edb. 1894 J. W. McLaren Tibbie and Tam 119), pootry (Abd. 1884 D. Grant Keckleton 65), powtrie, -y. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. poultry (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 385, poutrey, Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 262, Per. 1966). [′putri]
1. As in Eng., but formerly in Sc. construed as a pl. after a numeral. Hence in 1826 quot. a single fowl. Combs. midden-poutrie, dung-hill or barnyard fowls. See also Midden; pootry-fool, a fowl (Sh. 1966); poutrie-man, a dealer in fowls, a poulterer (Edb. 1717, 1744 Edb. Marriage Register (S.R.S.) 79, 477, poultryman). Gen.Sc.Bnff. 1722 V. Gaffney Lordship Strathavon (S.C.) 207:
A hogg six poutrie and two reek henns of customes.Sc. 1729 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) III. 112:
Sheep and Powtry, Geese and Ducks.Sc. 1817 Scott Rob Roy xiv.:
It's no muckle matter what the folk do to the midden pootry, for they haud siccan a skarting and scraping in the yard.Sc. 1826 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1863) I. 118:
A great big pootry fool pursued by a ggem-cock. The pootry keeps quate wi' his came, and wattles in a hole till ggemy gies him a spur or twa on the hurdies.
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"Poutrie n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/poutrie>
