Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
STUMPIE, n. Also stumpy. Freq. used quasi-prop.n. as a nickname.
1. The part of a limb left after partial amputation (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Kcb. 1971).
2. The stump or root of a decayed and broken tooth.Sc. 1724 Ramsay T.-T. Misc. (1876) I. 105:
While frae her jaws the slaver flow'd, And ay she curs'd poor stumpy.Peb. 1805 J. Nicol Poems I. 28:
Till, stap! — the brass her ae tooth taks, An' crash! — clean through gaed stumpie.
3. The stump of a quill-pen, esp. one that has been much sharpened.Ayr. 1785 Burns 2nd Ep. J. Lapraik vi.:
Sae I gat paper in a blink, An' down gaed stumpie in the ink.Rxb. 1821 A. Scott Poems 6:
Though envy wear her stumpie to the gristle.Fif. 1862 St Andrews Gazette (14 Nov.):
Efter ance takin' auld stumpy doon, an' beginnin' to write.Ags. 1892 Brechin Advert. (2 Aug.) 3:
Meantime I'll lay my stumpie bye.
4. A squat-shaped bottle (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.).Kcb. 1797 R. Buchanan Poems 295:
While corked Stumpie's sittin' near An thraple fu' o' ale or beer.
5. A short, stocky or dumpy person (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Cai., Ags. 1971); “a little good-natured creature” (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 441), as a nickname (Ags. 1971); a plump, sturdy young child, also in form stumpek (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)). Comb. stumpie-stowsie, id., gen. as a recollection of 1844 quot. (from W. Miller's Wee Willie Winkie).Slk. 1831 Fraser's Mag. (Feb.) 43:
Sic a dumpy, A moorland Caledonian stumpy.wm.Sc. 1844 Songs for Nursery 10:
A wee stumpie stousie, That canna rin his lane.Sc. 1865 R. W. Buchanan Inverburn (1882) 110:
As plump as ever cuddled mother's breast, A tiny stumpie-stowsie clutch'd with pride.Lth. 1866 J. Smith Merry Bridal 7:
Wi' meal-cogs an' kail-cogs For stumpies when they cam'.Bnff. 1888 in J. S. Skinner Logie Collection 95:
Just like my mither's bake langsyne, When I was but a stumpie, O.Ayr. 1912 G. Cunningham Verse 70:
Steerin' wee stumpies o' weans.Sc. 1943 J. Bridie Mr Bolfry i.:
A wee wee fellow with the finest set of whiskers that ever you saw and his name was wee Stumpie Stowsie.
