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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CREEPIE, CREEPY, n.¹ Often used attrib. with stule (stuil, stool), chair. [′kripi]

1. A low, three-legged stool, often placed by the fireside and mostly used by children. Angus Gl. (1914) gives the form kreepi for Sh. Gen.Sc. Formerly used in churches either by the congregation or “in a pulpit for elevating the speaker” (Sc. 1808 Jam.).Sc. 1899 H. G. Graham Soc. Life Scot. 18th Cent. II. 23:
The century had advanced some time before most of the kirks were seated with fixed pews. Before that period the people stood during service, or sat on the stools or “creepies,” which they either brought with them each Sunday, or set aside in the church.Sh. 1993 New Shetlander Sep 22:
Unasked he seated himself by the fire but choosing the creepie and avoiding the resting chair.Ork. 1920 J. Firth Reminisc. (1922) 56:
It seems to have been a very old custom for the guests to take their own stools or “creepies” to the wedding.Ork. 1952 R. T. Johnston Stenwick Days (1984) 87:
The first reaction of Enoch Craigie, when questioned as to whether he had been misusing the Community Centre funds, was to attack the constable with a creepie, but after Timothy had successfully dodged the attack for ten minutes the master of Swashmidden calmed down, ... Abd. a.1776 Anon. Logie of Buchan in Herd's MSS. (ed. Hecht 1904) 122:
I sit on my creepie, and spin at my wheel.Bch. 1941 C. Gavin Black Milestone xiii.:
Jock, on his creepie-stool, crouched anxiously at her knee.Fif. 1985 Christopher Rush A Twelvemonth and a Day 241:
Leebie presided over these last day ceilidhs from her creepie-stool at the side of the fire, threading her own snippets of old rhyme into the warp and woof of the stories and songs. Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch (1839) xvi.:
I kissed little Benjie, who was sitting on his creepie, blubbering and greeting for his parritch.wm.Sc. 1980 Anna Blair The Rowan on the Ridge 23:
That morning Mary and all the family except Hugh had carried their creepie stools as usual to the Kirk and sat now in a group under the preacher as he expounded from his text out of the Book of Proverbs ... Lnk. 1893 J. Crawford Sc. Verses 28:
An, fearless Ned could speel a tree As bare's a creepie stule.Uls. c.1920 J. Logan Ulster in the X-rays (2nd ed.) vi.:
Ma, . . . I got a cowp aff the creepy.

2. A footstool (Bnff.², Fif.¹⁰, Kcb.⁹ 1940); “still seen in certain churches to a limited extent” (Bnff.² 1942).Ags. 1824 Literary Olio (10 Jan.) 7/2:
Wha will bring me in a seat, Place a creepy for my feet?em.Sc. 1913 J. Black Gloamin' Glints 20:
Granny sits in her gude auld chair, Her feet on a creepie stule.Kcb. 1890 A. J. Armstrong Musings 69:
This wee creepie stuil that I noo hae my fit on, Has been in the haudin' for mony a year.

3. “The stool of repentance . . . on which it was customary for culprits to sit when making public satisfaction in the church” (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Kcb. 1827 Curriehill). Hist.Sc. 1724–27 Ramsay T. T. Misc. (1762) II. 193:
Look to yoursell, if Jock prove true: The clerk frae creepies will keep me free.Ayr. 1790 Burns Rantin Dog (Cent. ed.) iii.:
When I mount the creepie-chair, Wha will sit beside me there? Gie me Rob, I'll seek nae mair — The rantin dog, the daddie o't!

†4. A small chair in general, “any small stool, used as a seat in houses” (Mearns, Lnk. 1825 Jam.²).Ags. 1867 G. W. Donald Poems 192:
Fareweel, my gude auld creepie chair.

5. Phrase: to comb (someone's) head with the creepy (see quot.). Cf. to kaim someone's croon s.v. Kame.Uls. 1931 “Bangor” in North. Whig (16 Dec.) 9/5:
“She combed his head with the creepy” means that she beat him over the head with it.

6. A child's bed, prob. connoting a truckle-bed, a Hurlie, n.¹, 4. Gsw. 1878 W. Penman Echoes 18:
Noo Sandy, my man, dinna draw doon your broo, An' say you're no gaun to your creepie the noo.

7. A child at the creeping or crawling stage of infancy (Sc. 1911 S.D.D. Add.).