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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PEETY, n., v. Also peetie, peity, petie. Sc. form and usages of Eng. pity. See P.L.D. § 45. [′piti]

I. n. As in Eng. in Sc. phrs.: (1) peety but, it is a pity that . . . not, if only. Cf. God nor, deil nor, etc., s.v. Nor; (2) to be a (the) peety o' (a person, thing), to be a pity about (Ork., m. and s.Sc., Uls. 1965). Obs. or arch. in Eng.; as a threat: to be a bad lookout for, the worse for; used ironically, to serve (one) right (Sh., Cai., Ags., Per. 1965).(1) Sc. 1829 Scott Journal (30 May):
Pity but they would use a steam-boat to tow them out!(2) Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality xiv.:
It's a sair pity o' his hoast, for it aye comes on just when he's at the best o't [a sermon].Uls. 1879 W. Lyttle Paddy McQuillan 79:
Puir fellow, a declare it's a peety o' him.e.Sc. 1900 E. Strain Elmslie's Drag-Net 151:
If the doags dinna get a haud o' something, it's a peety o's!Dmb. 1931 A. J. Cronin Hatter's Castle iii. x.:
I hope ye have done splendid. . . . For if ye haven't then, by God! it'll be the pity of ye.Ork. 1952 R. T. Johnston Stenwick Days (1984) 21:
"Weel, I wur aafil herd up in them days, an I thowt whit a peety id wur that this chance o' makkin' a fortune wur gaun tae wist, the wey I hid noathing tae back the horse wi'. ... "m.Sc. 1979 Tom Scott in Joy Hendry Chapman 23-4 (1985) 89:
And that wad be a petie, wad it no,
for he [a badger]'s easy tamed, and wi his bawsont face
and eident, rootlin weys, he's entertainin
(tho treacherous and never to be trustit).
This countrie's no that rowth o carnivores
that we wadnae miss his, kin o the skunk tho he be.wm.Sc. 1985 Liz Lochhead Tartuffe 12:
Oh quite the philosopher! Well that's me told.
A solomon! A dominie! you're no' saft -
A peety that a' body but yirsel' is daft.m.Sc. 1988 William Neill Making Tracks 76:
A peetie tes thare's nane o thaim tak tent
o whit the haill shaif o his screivins meant,
insteid o gien thir yearlie coamic turns
in speik faur mair weel-kent in Newton Mearns.
Goad, the haill ettle o the bard's been bent
sae ilka thowless philistine kin pent
his 'Life of Burns' owre neaps, aitmeal-an-thairms.Dundee 1991 Ellie McDonald The Gangan Fuit 44:
Syne he maun spik lik sae - "lassies" - or "bonnie lassies" - "I want ye" - or - "I wad prig at ye" - or - "for onie sake dinnae be feartit an trummle. Gin ye think I come forrit as a lion than peity help us for I'm nae sic thing. ..."Ags. 1993 Mary McIntosh in Joy Hendry Chapman 74-5 112:
The bairn wis claikin an she made tae gie is aisment. Peety, smuired ower the lang days, wis like tae brak in on his venim.w.Lth. 2000 Davie Kerr A Puckle Poems 14:
A wise man cam, fae oot the east,
ti link us wi Auld Reekie.
The railway track
should be put back.
If no, - it's mair the peety.

Adj. peetifu(l), of persons, where mod. Eng. uses the word only of things: exciting pity and compassion, piteous, pitiable (Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 104, a.1838 Jam. MSS. XI. 142). Gen.Sc. Phr. the peetifu market, the spot at a country fair where the girls congregate who have not found an admirer to escort them. Also fig.Ayr. 1811 W. Aiton Agric. Ayr. 572:
The place where groups of them [country girls at a fair] stand without being called upon is termed “the pitiful market”.wm.Sc. 1854 Laird of Logan 81:
You would hear that Jenny is in the pitifu' market again.Kcd. 1900 Crockett Stickit Minister's Wooing 320:
The streets sae het and dry, the blawin' stoor, the peetifu' bairns in the gutter.

II. v. As in Eng. Sc. phrs.: 1. pity me!, an exclamation of surprise, disapproval, disgust, or the like, “bless my soul!” Gen.Sc.; 2. pity thee wit!, “have some sense!”, “don't be silly!”, “bless your heart!” (Ork. 1965).1. Sc. 1826 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1863) I. 147:
Dinna loot wi' that lang back o' yours, Mr. Tickler. Pity me — I hear't crackin.Per. 1883 R. Cleland Inchbracken xxxiv.:
Pity me! gin there's no' a wummin i' my very bed.Sc. 1896 Scots Mag. (Dec.) 26:
Peety me, what's Leddy Marget thinkin' o' tae tak up wi' the likes o' him?m.Sc. 1991 Tom Scott in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 39:
Or her that saved Ulyssie frae the swaws
Petied this cheil tae, I dinna ken,
But ken some ferlie spell kept him frae daeth.2. Ork. 1912 Old-Lore Misc. V. ii. 67:
Pity thee wit, Bruicie (at was da factor) 'ill never fash thee for a ting.