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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.

PULLIE, n.1 Also pull(e)y, pollie, pillie. A turkey (Cai. 1930; Bnff., Uls. 1967).

Combs. pullie-cock, pollie-, pillie-, a turkey-cock (Sc. 1808 Jam., pollie-), pullie-hen, a turkey-hen (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 135; Cai. 1903 E.D.D.). Also fig. a garrulous person, a “wind-bag”.Cai. 1891 D. Stephen Gleanings 103:
Robie lifted the cover off a pot and abstracted a turkey . . . The story got wind, and the boys were not slow in crying to him, “Pulley, pulley, stealed Mr. R-'s pulley.”
Bnff. 1893 W. Gregor Dunbar's Wks. (S.T.S.) III. 285:
Pullie or pillie cock is a common name for a turkey-cock in parts of Banffshire.
Cai. 1902 J. Horne Canny Countryside 135:
Haud yer tongue, ye bletherin' pulley-cock!

[Etym. uncertain. Phs. orig. imit. of the bird's gobbling but formally influenced by Poullie and Pownie. The turkey was freq. confused with the peacock. Cf. Peanie, Pownie. Gael. has borrowed the word as pulaidh.]

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"Pullie n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 2 Dec 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/pullie_n1>

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