Sitooterie
February 8th 2025
You’ll find this term within the entry for sit where it is defined as, “to sit apart and take no part in a dance; in a restaurant etc., an area where patrons can sit outside; a conservatory. Hence jocularly, sit-ooterie, an alcove, recess or the like where one may do this”. Nowadays it has been extended to mean any area outside an eatery, pub, or property where one can sit.
In October 2003, a reporter in the Scotsman enthusiastically approved of the use of this Scots term: “The official opening of the Saline ‘Sitooterie’ caught our eye yesterday, or should that be ‘ee’. Whit a fine name. Nice to see the weans are in touch with their heritage and using auld words for new things. The Sitooterie at Saline Primary School is part of a Fife Council initiative to transform run-down buildings. For Anglicised readers, it is ‘a structure to sit out in – a quiet haven for contemplation’”.
Post-pandemic, sitooteries have only grown in popularity. Returning to the Scotsman, we find this in a January 2021 piece on home improvements: “Now with social distancing rules likely to stay in place for some time to come and spring just around the corner, people’s thoughts are turning towards improving their surroundings to make the most of their domestic environment. A popular move is to create a ‘sitooterie’ in your garden where it is possible to entertain friends and loved ones outdoors or just enjoy a bit of personal chill time”.
Dictionaries of the Scots Language would like to thank Bob Dewar for illustrating our Scots Word of the Week feature.
In October 2003, a reporter in the Scotsman enthusiastically approved of the use of this Scots term: “The official opening of the Saline ‘Sitooterie’ caught our eye yesterday, or should that be ‘ee’. Whit a fine name. Nice to see the weans are in touch with their heritage and using auld words for new things. The Sitooterie at Saline Primary School is part of a Fife Council initiative to transform run-down buildings. For Anglicised readers, it is ‘a structure to sit out in – a quiet haven for contemplation’”.
Post-pandemic, sitooteries have only grown in popularity. Returning to the Scotsman, we find this in a January 2021 piece on home improvements: “Now with social distancing rules likely to stay in place for some time to come and spring just around the corner, people’s thoughts are turning towards improving their surroundings to make the most of their domestic environment. A popular move is to create a ‘sitooterie’ in your garden where it is possible to entertain friends and loved ones outdoors or just enjoy a bit of personal chill time”.
Dictionaries of the Scots Language would like to thank Bob Dewar for illustrating our Scots Word of the Week feature.
