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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

GUDGE, n., v. [gʌdʒ]

I. n. 1. A gouge (I. and ne.Sc. 1955).Sc. 1696 Darien Papers (1849) 38:
100 House Carpenters Gudges for carving at 4d. p.s.

2. Anything short and thick, esp. a short, strong, thick-set person (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.; Cai. 1907 D. B. Nicolson in County of Cai. 74; Uls.³ 1930; Cai., Bnff., Abd. 1955). Dim. gudgick (Bnff. 1900 E.D.D.), also kudgie (Ork. 1929 Marw.).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 70:
A gudge o' a stick . . . He's a kibble gudge o' a cheelie.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb viii.:
A stoot gudge anxious to work a pair o' horse.Abd. 1903 W. Watson Auld Lang Syne 35:
Dilly was a thick-set “gudge,” slightly “pirn tae't.”

Hence †(1) gudget, (a) n., “one who is fat from eating too much” (Rxb. 1825 Jam.); (b) v., to be gluttonous (Ib.); (c) adj., short and thick-set, squat (Ib.); (2) gudgie, -y, adj., = (1) (c) (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Cai., Per. 1900 E.D.D.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Ork. 1929 Marw., kudgie; Slk. 1950; Ags., Per., Lnk. 1955).(2) Edb. 1843 J. Ballantine Gaberlunzie v.:
There's wee Tammy Twenty, the auld tinkler bodie, . . . Wi' Nanny his wifie, sae gudgy an' duddy.Kcd. 1870 Stonehaven Jnl. (9 June) 3:
Ane gudgie kist an' shoggly bed Compris'd the priest's hale ware.Gsw. 1873 A. G. Murdoch Lilts 96:
Auld Socrates, the gudgie Greek, Took wife to mend his trouble.

3. A wedge (Bch. 1897 Trans. Bch. Field Club IV. 79).

†4. The metal pivot of a bell, a journal or iron axle-end of a roller or the like, Eng. gudgeon.Per. a.1746 J. Meikle Alyth Par. Ch. (1933) 213:
In three years more one pound had to be given for a “gudge” to the bell.Bnff. 1799 Bnffsh. Jnl. (5 Nov. 1889):
A stone roller is dressed, cost 5/6 with ½ for iron gudges and pillows.

5. A short metal rod. Abd. 1987 Alexander Fenton Wirds an' Wark 28:
These cylinders of granite [a field-roller] had a hole bored at each end and into these were inserted short metal rods, the gudges, to act as axles.

II. v. 1. To gouge out (Sh., Ork., ne.Sc., Ags. 1955), “to cause to bulge” (Fif. 1825 Jam.).Ib.:
To gudge a stone from a quarry, to press it out with a pinch or lever.

2. = Guddle, v. 1. and 2. (Rxb. 1825 Jam.; Bnff.⁷ 1927); = Guddle, v. 4. (Ork. 1955).

3. With up: to wedge in (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 71); “to raise or separate by driving in wedges; as quarry-men often do” (Bnff. 1880 Jam.; Bnff., Ags. 1955).

4. To eat ravenously or in a gluttonous manner (Cld. 1880 Jam.).