Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1908-1931
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BOCKIE, Boki, Bokie, Boakie, Bukki, n. Hobgoblin, scarecrow. Given for Abd. in Jam. (1808) s.v. boakie. [′bɔkɪ̢, ′bokɪ̢ I.Sc., Mry., Bnff., Abd., but Sh. + ′bʌkɪ̢]Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
Boki, ghost, bogey for frightening children; also occas. used contemptuously of a person one cannot bear: "a de'il's b[oki]."Sh. 1931 L. Fenton in Scots Mag. (Aug.) 339:
"Bokies" are said to be the spirits of sailors wrecked on or near the island, and they are destined to haunt the shores and cliffs until their bodies receive a Christian burial on land.Ork.(D) 1910 J. T. S. Leask in Old-Lore Misc., Ork., Sh., etc. III. i. 29:
Hid's no for 'is guid wark at he's minded on, na 'deed, bit jeust cis he waas aye seean bockies, he caad dem ferries.Abd.(D) 1920 C. Murray In the Country Places 20:
That's a bokie weel-a-wat, an' a peer attemp' at that, Your ringel een were bleared afore, but noo they're gettin' gleyed.
Combs.: (1) Bokie-blindie (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.), bukkiblindi (1908 Jak. (1928)), bōkiblind, "the game of blindman's buff" (1914 Angus Gl.). [Cf. Norw. dial. blinda-bukk, Dan. blinde buk and Eng. dial. blind-bucky-davy (E.D.D.).] (2) Tattie-bokie, "a scarecrow" (Bnff.2 1935).Abd. 1930 D. Campbell Kirsty's Surprise 16:
Ye should seek a len' o' yon rig-oot Haugh's tattie-bokie's weerin' noo. The craws winna ging near't.
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"Bockie n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 9 Jul 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/bockie>
