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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

JEEGER, n. Also geeger, jigger. [′dʒigər, ′dʒɪg-]

1. A somewhat contemptuous term for a person of eccentric appearance or habits (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 90; Abd. 1902 E.D.D.; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein, jeeger; Sh., ne.Sc., Ags., Per., Lth., Bwk., Lnk. 1959; Bnff. 2000s). Also in n.Eng. dial.Edb. 1811 G. Bruce Poems 141:
You'd sworn, had you but seen ilk jigger That Knights were they, o' woefu' figure.
Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) vi.:
That man Bowden's the queerest jeeger ever I cam' across.
Abd. 1921 Swatches o' Hamespun 16:
Ae jigger, Bella S —, Tam P — an' a curn o' 'em Byth loons pat inen a creel an' cadged 'er throwe the toon.
Abd. 1993:
Fit kinna queer-lookin jigger's at?

2. A goblin.Dwn. 1844 R. Huddleston Poems 31:
Magic knots, Ca'd fairies, weifs, bo-keeks, an' geegers.

3. pl. The legs.Abd. 1914 Rymour Club Misc. II. 108:
The auld wives o' Crichie haud a gey Aiky Fair, They dance roond the tents wi' their jiggers a' bare.

[Jeeg, Eng. jig, v. + agent suff. -er.]

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"Jeeger n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 2 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/jeeger>

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