Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1813, 1866-1939
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GIRNIE, adj., n. Also girny.
I. adj. Peevish, ill-tempered, querulous, fretful (n.Sc. 1825 Jam.). Gen.Sc. Hence girnie-gabbit, carping, complaining.Rnf. 1813 G. MacIndoe Wandering Muse 212:
Nor sair the sakeless woodie twine My girnie-gabit deary.Edb. 1872 J. Smith Habbie & Madge 28:
To please them when they were fashious an' girny, an' mak them sleep.Gsw. 1902 J. J. Bell Wee MacGreegor x.:
"I dinna think I'll gang oot the day, John," said Lizzie. "Wee Jeannie's that girny."Bnff. 1939 J. M. Caie Hills & Sea 5:
Or fat if he think me grim, girnie, an' hatefu' — Fat will be left fin my love is a' spent?
Comb.: girny-gib(bie), -gub, a peevish, bad-tempered person, esp. of a youngster (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Bwk.3, Uls.4 (-gub) 1954). Also attrib.Gsw. 1872 J. Young Lochlomond Side 73:
A grey-beard girny-gib, Sworn wi' ill-nature to keep sib.Ayr. 1890 J. Service Notandums xiii.:
There's the tawpie mither . . . thinks there never was . . . sic a guid wean as this girnie-gibbie brat o' hers.
II. n. A fretful, peevish, bad-tempered person (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Sh., Ork., Ags., Slg., Fif., wm.Sc., Rxb. 1954).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 63:
There's girnie t' the rod agehn; he's been our lang at paice.Fif. 1897 "G. Setoun" George Malcolm i.:
Weel, have ye got ower your tantrums, young girnie.
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"Girnie adj., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Jun 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/girnie>
