Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1828, 1931-1952
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HARKY, n. Also harki(e) (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl.), herki, hirki(e), horki (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)). A sea-taboo or pet name for a pig (Sh. 1956).Nai. 1828 W. Gordon Poems 31:
And sittin' by an auld pig stye, He tumbled in wi' harky.Sh. 1931 J. Nicolson Tales 56:
Domestic animals likewise had their sea-names . . . the swine was da birsi, and da hirki.Sh. 1952 J. Hunter Taen wi da Trow 73:
Ta lattin unrung hirkies rin At lairge aboot da toon.
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"Harky n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Jul 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/harky>
