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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

DOUDLE, Doodle, v. and n. [dudl]

I. v. ‡1. To play (a wind instrument, esp. a doudle or the bagpipes) (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., obsol.).Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality iv.:
But in nae event cry on me, for I am wearied wi' doudling the bag o' wind a' day.
Sc. 1824 Scott Redgauntlet Letter xi.:
Thou sack-doudling son of a whore!

Hence (1) doudler, -ar, doodler, †(a) = n., 1. [Jam.2 gives this = bog-bean, appar. through a misunderstanding of the Scott quot.]; ‡(b) = n., 2. (ne.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.), see quot. under n.; (2) doudle-bag, the bagpipes (Ags. 1949 (per Abd.27); ne.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); cf. Ken. dial. doodle-sack, idem.(a) Rxb. 1805 A. Scott Poems 100:
His turban was the doudlars plet.

2. To sing or hum over a tune as an accompaniment to dancers (Fif.13, Arg.1 1940, doodle; Ayr. 1949 (per Abd.27)). Also in Nhb. dial. Cf. Diddle, v.2, n.2

II. n.

1. The root of the common reed, Phragmites communis, “of which children in the South of S. make a sort of musical instrument similar to the oaten pipe of the ancients” (Rxb. 1825 Jam.2; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., obsol.).

2. The musical instrument made from the reed (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., obsol.); “the reed is sliced so as to leave a thin membrane which vibrates when sung into. It was called also a Doo-doo on account of that syllable being sung into it” (Ags.17 1940).Rxb. 1921 Kelso Chron. (7 Oct.) 4/1:
At one time, not far distant, a sort of Pan's pipe constructed of the bog-reed had been the popular musical instrument — “The blithe shepherds' play on the bog-reed and horn.” The reed was named a “doodle” or “doodler” from the tootling sound it emitted. Drainage of bogs, however, exterminated bog-reeds and their music died with them.

[Cf. Ger. dudeln, to play the bagpipes, from Polish dudlić, to play badly on a wind instrument, from dudy, a bagpipe.]

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"Doudle v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 29 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/doudle>

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