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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CATTIE, CATTY, n.

1. Dim. of Eng. cat (Cai., Bnff., Ayr., Dmf. 2000s).Abd. 1881 W. Paul Past and Present of Abdsh. 121:
The cattie rade to Paisley upon a harrow tine.

2. “A kind of game” (Cai.¹ c.1920); tipcat (Mry.¹ 1928, catty; Abd. 1938 A. Keith in Abd. Press and Jnl. (26 March) 6). Known to Abd.²², Fif.¹ 1938. Cf. Cat, n.², 2 (1) and (2).Abd. c.1833 Sc. N. & Q. (Ser. 1) IV. 25:
The crews often amused themselves on Sunday mornings playing the game of Cattie, the name by which it was known to boys.

3. A catapult (Fif.¹⁰ 1938; Gsw.¹ 1935; Lnk.³ 1938; Bnff., Ags., Edb., Ayr., Kcb., Dmf. 2000s). Also in form cattiepaw (Fif. 1952); cattie wa', = cat wa, s.v. Cat, n.¹, III. 17.Ork. 1894 W. R. Mackintosh Peat-fires 195:
A wall, called the "cattie wa'", separated the "ca'es-neuk" from between the doors.m.Sc. 1922 J. Buchan Huntingtower viii.:
When he had run round about them till they were wappit, he out wi' his catty and got one o' them on the lug.

4. “A woman's fur necklet” (Abd.⁹ 1916; also Bnff.² 1938).Ags. 1990s:
Cattie: n. narrow fur necklet.

5. Combs.: (1) cattie an' doggie, see Cat, n.², 2 (2); (2) cattie-bargle, -bargie, “a noisy, angry quarrel among children” (Sc. 1887 Jam.⁶); for second element, see Bargle; (3) cattie-buckie, cata-, see quot. Also cattie welk (Ork. 1975); (4) cattie-cloors, bird's-foot trefoil, Lotus corniculatus (Sh. 1913–1914 J. M. Hutcheson W.-L.). Cf. Kattaklu; (5) cattie's gravit, “the dirty line left on the neck marking the limit of washing” (Mry. c.1920 (per D. M. Campbell); Abd.⁹ 1938); for second element, see Gravat; (6) catty prongs (see quot.); ‡(7) catty-pussy, “a cat” (ne.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).(3) Ork. 1954 Ork. Miscellany II. 56:
Cattie-buckie. Nucella Lapillus, the Purple Shell (but more likely Littorina littoralis) . . . Buccinum Undatum the Waved Whelk.(6) Dmf. 1931 (per Edb.¹):
I came across a curious word in an Annan boy's essay the other day — catty prongs. He says that the boys at Annan give that name to catapults.

6. Phr.: to lat the cattie dee, “to allow a swing to come gradually to rest” (Ags.⁹ 1927). Known to Abd. and Ags. correspondents, and Lnk.³ (for Lth. and Lnk.) 1938.Ags. 1925 Forfar Dispatch (16 July) 3/3:
I was rale vexed to hear them cryin', “Lat the cattie dee.”

7. A somersault (Mry., Abd. 1975). Cf. wullcat s.v. Wild, adj., 1.

8. The angel-fish, Squatina squatina (Bnff. 1887 J. A. Harvie-Brown & F. E. Buckley Fauna Cai. 255).

9. The core of an apple or pear (Ags. 1975). Ags. 1948:
Gie me the cattie o' your aipple an' I'll let ye see my bielt finger.