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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

‡GARDY, Gardie, n. Also gaurdy, gairdy, †garde. [′gɑrdi, ′gerdi]

1. The arm (w.Sc. 1741 A. McDonald Galick Vocab. 15, gairdy; Abd.² 1949).Sc. 1706 Sc. Antiquary XII. 103:
We shall ply our Gardes and Fingers or the foul pair aff.Abd. 1755 R. Forbes Jnl. from London 33:
However I took her by the bought o' the gardy, an' gar'd her sit down by me.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Rock and wee Pickle Tow vii.:
This I wad ha' washen an' bleech'd like the snaw, And o' my twa gardies like moggans wad draw.Rxb. 1821 A. Scott Poems 146:
Auld shell-crown'd Neptune has him fast In's briny gardies strang.Bch. 1832 W. Scott Poems 61:
Now, Jamie, man, had here your lusty nieve, An' lat me shak your gardy fae the sleeve.Bnff. 1876 S. Smiles Sc. Naturalist i.:
A gangrel bodie . . . wi' a bit basket owre 'er gardie.Abd. 1916 G. Abel Wylins 52:
The lassie he haed mauled wis there, Her gairdy in a sling.

†2. In pl.: the hands, “especially when put up in a posture to fight” (‡ne.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).Edb. 1773 R. Fergusson Poems (1925) 75:
Behad the bruiser, fae to a' That in the reek o's gardies fa'.Ags. 1815 G. Beattie John o' Arnha' (1826) 12:
[He] weilds his gardies, Or, at the warst, his aiken rung.

3. Combs.: †(1) gardie-bane, the arm bone; †(2) gardy-chair, an arm-chair; †(3) gardy-moggans, “moggans [knitted sleeves] for putting on the arms” (Abd. 1825 Jam.).(1) Abd. 1739 J. Skinner Amusements (1809) 45:
He rumbl'd down a rammage glyde, And peel'd the gardy-bane O' him that day.(2) Abd. 1755 R. Forbes Jnl. from London 27:
He was well wordy o' the gardy-chair.Mry. 1806 J. Cock Simple Strains 107:
I stack my bonnet o' the wa', And ga'e 'm the Gardy-Chair.Dmf. 1808 J. Mayne Siller Gun 100:
Jocosely, i' the gardy chair, He tells the day's adventures there.Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 123:
The English beef sae big had made him, His gaurdy chair it scarce wad haud him.