Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1823-1847, 1910-1950
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WHIPPITIE-STOURIE, prop. n. Also Whippity Stourie, Whuppity Stoorie, Whuppetie Stourie. A kind of fairy or brownie, roughly the equivalent of Rumpelstiltskin (see R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes (1892) pp. 72–77); hence by transf. a light-footed nimble person (Fif., Dmb. 1974). Also attrib.Sc. 1823 Scott Letters (Cent. Ed.) VIII. 56:
She is quite the fairy of our Nursery-tale the Whippity Stourie, if you remember such a sprite who came flying in through the window to work all sorts of marvels.Sc. 1827 C. I. Johnstone Eliz. de Bruce III. ix.:
Like the Whippitie-stourie, shangie, shan-chinned, short-hoggers elf that ye are.Sc. 1847 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes 224:
The likes o' me is na fit to tye the warst shoe-strings o' the heich and mighty princess, Whuppity Stoorie!Lnk. 1910 C. Fraser Glengonnar 97:
The minister at the tap o' the glen, a rale whippitie stourie o' a cratur'.m.Sc. 1950 O. Douglas Farewell to Priorsford 68:
I've never seen a fairy, though I've one of my own at home. Her name's Whuppetie Stourie, and she lives in the nursery chimney.
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"Whippitie-stourie n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/whippitie_stourie_n>
