Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

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.