Show Search Results Show Browse
Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†KIRRYWERY, n. Also carriwary. “A sort of burlesque serenade; the noise of mock-music, made with pots, kettles, frying-pans, shouting, screaming, etc., at or near the doors and windows of old people who marry a second time, especially of old women and widows who marry young men” (Fif., w.Lth. 1825 Jam.).
[Doubtful. The word is prob. a variant of Currie-wurrie, the defin. given to Jam. being really derived from Cotgrave's Fr. Dict. s.v. charivaris.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Kirrywery n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/kirrywery>
