Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1893-1897
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†OORIECOORIE, n. Also urikuri, hoori-koori (Jak.). Gen. in pl. with def. art. A drowsy dull condition of body or spirits, a being out-of-sorts, a peevish fretful mood. A v. urekur and a ppl. form oorin-coorin are also found (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).Sh. 1893 Sinclair MS. 3:
Bit qua can uppleuse, wi dy gumfleck an ooricoories, a' da maddram an foley at's guidably faan afore de noo!Sh. 1897 J. Jakobsen Dial. Sh. 39:
"He's lying i' de hoori-kooris" is originally applied to a person half-awake and half-asleep in the morning, before getting out of bed, and as he is then generally sulky, the expression is most often applied in this latter meaning. We find both words also in the expression: "To sit oorin-koorin (nodding, half-asleep) ower de fire."
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"Ooriecoorie n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/ooriecoorie>
