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: 1748-1777, 1839, 1902-1940
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HURLY, n. Also hurley. A nickname for one who is the last or tardiest of a group to do anything, the straggler, laggard.Abd. 1748 R. Forbes Ajax 7:
He scarce wou'd gae a fit frae hame, An' o' us a' was hurly.Abd. 1777 R. Forbes Ulysses' Answer 30:
If I was hurly, there was cause, Believe me as ye like.
In combs.: 1. hurly-buck-out, (the) last, hindmost; 2. hurly-burly, id. (Abd. 1825 Jam.); 3. hurly hinmaist, -most, harly — (Ags.), id. (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 85; ne.Sc., Ags. 1957); 4. hurly pig, the last pig of a litter (Uls. 1957).1. Mry. 1839 Lintie o' Moray (Cumming 1857) 56:
"The hurly-buck-out o' the school is my fee," Cried Satan — "an' surely Sir Robert is he."2. Abd. 1902 E.D.D.:
When a number of young people are all engaged doing something — say a sum — to induce them to hurry up, it is asked "Which o' ye'll [be] hurley-burley?" A lagging one would be admonished, "Ca' awa' an, nae haad them cryin' hurley-burley at you." The child last in dressing might be called "hurley burley" to spur it on.3. Abd. 1940 C. Gavin Hostile Shore xiii.:
That is, if she can feenish't, but oor Lenny's aye hurly-hinmost wi' her work.
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"Hurly n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 7 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/hurly_n>
