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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

NETTLE, n., v.¹ Also †nittle. Sc. form and usages:

I. n. As in Eng., in Comb. and Phr.: ‡1. nettle-brose, Brose made from the juice of boiled young nettle-tops (Bnff., Ags. 1964); 2. nettle-broth, Broth made from nettle-tops (Sc. 1825 Jam.), used as “an old wives' prescription in spring for purification of the bowels and blood, as well as a specific for the generative principle” (Fif. c.1850 R. Peattie MS.; Kcb., Uls. 1964); 3. nettl(i)e-creeper, the whitethroat, Sylvia communis (m.Lth. 1885 Trans. Slg. Nat. Hist. and Antiq. Soc. 61; Ayr. 1929 Paton and Pike Birds Ayr. 65; Clc. 1964, in reduced form, nettlie). Also in Eng. dial.; 4. nettle-kail, -kale, = 2., see Kail, 3. Also in n.Eng. dial.; 5. nettle-tantick, = 3. (Arg. 1936 L. McInnes Dial. S. Kintyre 9); 6. nettle wren, = 3.; 7. on nettles, in a state of anxiety or suspense, on tenterhooks, impatient, ill-humoured (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 118, nittles; Cai. 1903 E.D.D.; (Edb., wm.Sc., Dmf. 2000s). Gen.Sc. Also in Eng. dial.1. Ags. 1848 W. Gardiner Flora Frf. 162:
The young tops are frequently gathered by the peasantry to make a favourite and delicious dish named, “Nettle-brose.”4. s.Sc. 1837 Wilson's Tales of the Borders I. 83:
But losh! sic a prescription! a day's fasting an' twa ladles o' nettle kail.s.Sc. 1859 in J. Watson Bards 195:
The laich herd's hoose Where I suppit nettle kail.Sh. 1899 Shetland News (15 April):
Scottish folks have never taken kindly to nettle kale.6. w.Lth. 1945 Scotsman (5 Aug.) 7:
The starling was the “stushie”, and the whitethroat the “nettle wren.”7. Lnk. 1886 J. Stewart Twa Elders 80:
I'm aye on nettles a' the time Till the fire's nicely dressed.Sc. 1892 Stevenson Across the Plain i.:
Some of them were on nettles till they learned your name.Abd. 1900 Wkly. Free Press (19 May):
Mrs Middleton was kept on nettles the hale nicht. Per. 1979 Betsy Whyte The Yellow on the Broom 29:
So Father was always on nettles when he lived among Mother's folks.

II. v. As in Eng., to provoke, pique (Abd. 1922 Swatches o' Hamespun 57, nittle). Ppl.adj. nettling, irritating, arising from pique.Ayr. 1821 Scots Mag. (April) 351:
In glisking owre your letter, a kin' o' nettling ramfeezlement gart a' my heart whiltie-whaltie.Abd. 1925 Banffshire Jnl. (21 April):
Aye, man, Dubbies hiz been fair nittle't.

Hence nettlie, fig., ill-humoured, peevish (e.Sc. 1825 Jam.).