Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1881-1993
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CURDIE, Curdee, Curdy, n. A very small coin; a farthing (Abd.4 1929; Frf., Edb. 1916, curdie; Slg.3 1941; Rnf. 1947 (per Abd.27); Lnk. 1928 (per Ayr.4), curdy, Kcb.1 1941, curdee). Also used attrib. and as a nickname for a boy very small for his age (Lnk.11 1941). [′kʌrdi]Sc. 1923 Sc. Univ. Verses 1918–23 66:
An' leave ye fient a curdie bit.Edb. 1881 J. W. M'Laren Rhymes 27:
They're just as good as pills, and dinna cost a curdie.Edb. 1898 J. Baillie Walter Crighton 257:
He was presented with a suit of handsome regimentals, the empty sword belt of which the knaps promised to fill with a “curdie” subscription when they were auld callants.Gsw. 1972 Molly Weir Best Foot Forward (1974) 160:
They wouldn't have parted with as much as a curdy, for what was left in their pockets after handing over the housekeeping was strictly their own, and not to be shared. Gsw. 1993 Margaret Sinclair Soor Plooms and Candy Balls 1:
Sookin' a liquorice stick, ma curdy in ma haun,
Soor Plooms an' Humbugs, ah'll hiv some o' thone.
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"Curdie n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/curdie>
