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.
Quotation dates: 1714, 1778-1829
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†POWNIE, n.2 Also pown(e)y (Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 258; Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems Gl.); pounie; pon(e)y; †pawnie. Powie in Jam. (1825) is a misprint.
1. The peacock (Sc. 1825 Jam.).
2. The turkey (Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems Gl.; Sc. 1787 J. Elphinston Propriety II. 178), esp. the female turkey (e.Lth. 1825 Jam., pounie). Combs. pon(e)y-cock, the male turkey, a turkey cock (Sc. 1808 Jam., pounie- s.v. Pollie-cock); powny-hen. the female turkey, a turkey hen.Lth. 1714 Jnl. J. Hart (Lee 1832) 32:
There are several evergreens cut into several shapes, a peacock, pownie-cock, and a pelican, and swan.Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 24:
I wad rather hae a bit good powny an' a pound o' cheese.Rxb. c.1800 Mem. S. Sibbald (Hett 1926) 124:
There's a muckle roast of Beef, a jiggot of mutton, twa Dukes, twa Fools, and a Poney.Sc. 1814 Scott Waverley xxiv.:
Pawnies, black-cock, muir-fowl and capercailzies.Ayr. 1823 Galt Entail lxxvii.:
I hae been at the cost and outlay o' a jigot o' mutton, a fine young poney cock, and a florentine pye.m.Lth. 1829 G. Robertson Recollections 188:
They were totally unknown to the older race of husbandmen, except by name; as the laird's bubbly-jock and pony-hen.
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"Pownie n.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 9 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/pownie_n2>
