Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1805-1834, 1891, 1947-1992
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SWABIE, n. Also swaabi(e), swab(b)i; swabek (Jak.). The full form swartba(c)k is found occas. in formal writing. [′swɑbi] The great black-backed gull, Larus marinus (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 214, swaabie, 1866 Edm. Gl., 1908 Jak. (1928), swabi, Sh. 1971). Also in comb. swaabi-maa, id. (Sh. 1971).Ork. 1805 G. Barry Hist. Ork. 304:
Our black-backed mew, or as it is sometimes called, swartback.Sh. 1821 Scott Pirate x.:
The water-fowl took to wing in eddying and confused wheel, answering the echoes with a thousand varying screams, from the deep note of the swabie, or swartback, to the querulous cry of tirracke and kittiewake.Sh. 1834 Old-Lore Misc. X. v. 202:
On the neighbouring Fugle Skerry the swabie shares the ground with the lesser black-backed [gull].Sh. 1891 J. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 44:
Roon and roon, Screecghin laek a swaabie.Sh. 1947 New Shetlander No. 4. 10:
A'm no da craa dat looks fir eggs, nor yet a swabbi maa!Sh. 1992 Bobby Tulloch A Guide to Shetland's Breeding Birds 54:
GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL
(Larus marinus)
shet: Swaabie or Baagie
Comb.: peerie swaabie, The lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus.Sh. 1992 Bobby Tulloch A Guide to Shetland's Breeding Birds 52:
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
(Larus Fuscus)
shet: Peerie Swaabie or Said Fool. (Saithe Fowl).
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"Swabie n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 2 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/swabie>
