Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1879-1962
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PLUNKIE, n., adj. Also plunkey, pleunkie (Ork. 1929 Old-Lore Misc. XI. III. 80), plunki. [′plʌŋki]
I. n. 1. A practical joke, prank (Sh. 1825 Jam., 1908 Jak. (1928), plunki, 1914 Angus Gl., plunki; Ork. 1929 Marw.; I.Sc. 1966); a stratagem, wile, trick. Phr. to play plunkie, to play tricks, also to play truant (‡Ork. 1975).Sh. 1879 Shetland Times (29 April):
Misfortune had still a “plunkie” in store for him.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 132:
For a' sheu kent hid might hae been A plunkey o the Deil.Ork. 1931 J. Leask Peculiar People 126:
Hid waas guid mains api dem, bit ever hard du o' seekan a pleunkie to win awa?Sh. 1962 New Shetlander No. 63. 4:
Da boys aye played plunkies apon him.
2. A difficult situation, a predicament, quandary, “pickle”.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Noo I war in a bonnie plunky.
II. adj. or attrib. Cunning, sly, full of guile, tricky (Cld. 1880 Jam.).
[Orig. doubtful. II. if genuine, may be a different word, ? from Plunk, v.2]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Plunkie n., adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/plunkie>
