Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
PARTLE, v., n.1.
I. v., intr. To waste time, work in a half-hearted way, trifle (Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems Gl.); also tr., to partle one's time (‡Ayr. 1965).Sc. 1897 C. Grey Misanthrope's Heir xxvii., xxv.:
A currant tart that's just gaun into the oven, if that hizzy wadna partle a' day oot there wi' a pickle berries . . . Gang and do my errand, and no stand partlin' there.
II. n. A small worthless thing, a trifle, detail (w.Sc. 1880 Jam.; Ayr. 1965).
[Prob. a variant with epenthetic r with emphatic force (cf. Hirple), of n.Eng. pawtle, po(w)tle, a freq. form of Pawt. II. may be a different word, phs. to be associated with part(icle).]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Partle v., n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 12 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/partle_v_n1>
