Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1946
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SKUTAMILLIESCROO, n. Also skottamilliskrua (Jak.), skuttamijllaskru (Angus); with altered second element skuttie-muttie, and aphetic forms kattamillaskrua (Jak.), katyi milyi skru (Sh. a.1936 Sh. Folk Bk. III. 12). The game of hide-and-seek played among corn-stacks (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), 1914 Angus Gl.), freq. used adv. in phr. to rin skuttamilliescroo, to play this game (Jak.; Sh. 1970). [′skʊtəmɪlə′skru]Sh. 1946 M. M. Banks Cal. Customs 10:
It was the custom, when the corn was in the corn-yard, for the bairns to chase each other, or dodge each other, out and in between the screws or ricks. This game was called 'skuttie-muttie', or 'skut-a-millie-scroo'.
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"Skutamilliescroo n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/skutamilliescroo>
