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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.

HURRY, v., n.1 Sc. usages:

I. v. 1. Ppl.adj. hurried, hurriet, “having one's work cut out”, harassed, hard pressed (Ork., ne.Sc., Ags., m.Lth., Kcb. 1957).Rnf. 1850 A. McGilvray Poems 115:
You reach'd the street, Hurried enough to keep your feet.
Ags. 1856 W. Grant Few Poet. Pieces 8:
The spring this year is cramp an' crookit, Oblong an' angle, twin'd an' hookit An' farmers noo are gettin' hurriet.
Ayr. 1889 H. Johnston Glenbuckie 142:
I asked him if he thought his works would save him, and he replied in an off hand manner, that he thought they would be “hurried enough.”
Abd. 1923 R. L. Cassie Heid or Hert 27:
Wi' his walks, his beuks, an' some vreetin' tae the papers, he wud say he wis as hurriet an' shortsome as he cud wuss.

2. To raise a disturbance (Sc. 1911 S.D.D. Add.).

II. n. 1. A disturbance, riot, quarrel, commotion (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 278; Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.; Inv., Abd., m.Lth., Uls. 1957), bustle, stir. Obs. in Eng. exc. dial. since mid-18th c.Inv. 1746 D. Grant MS. Letter Book (July):
Till the hurry blow over.
Peb. 1817 R. Brown Lintoun Green 5:
'Tween stick and wa' they keep their feet, The hurry heats their blood.
Dmf. 1831 R. Shennan Tales 40:
But soon we heard an unco hurry, And saw twa men in dreadfu' fury.
Abd. 1875 W. Alexander My Ain Folk 180:
Raither than conter 'im or rin the chance o' a hurry wi' 'im.
Ags. 1882 Brechin Advertiser (26 Dec.) 3:
Fan the hurry gat up aboot fa had suppit the sowans.

2. A spree, a jollification.Lnk. c.1850 Rymour Club Misc. (1913) II. 66:
Remember and think on the Little Clyde Hurry, And siccan a hansel they gied the New Year!

3. A scolding (Fif. 1825 Jam.; Abd., Fif. 1957).Rnf. 1808 A. Wilson Watty and Meg 6:
Maggy's weel-kend tongue and hurry, Darted thro' him like a knife.
Fif. 1886 S. Tytler St Mungo's City III. xxxiv.:
She weel deserves a hurry.

4. A rush of work, an exceptionally busy time. Gen.Sc.Dmb. 1846 W. Cross Disruption xiii.:
I lend a hand there whiles when the smith has a hurry.
Abd. 1899 G. Greig Logie o' Buchan xix.:
I thocht I would tak' a step owre noo that your hurry's feckly by.
Uls. 1901 Ulsterisms in North. Whig:
As the mornin' was lookin' to be saft, and I wasn't very throng, I ettled to get there early afore the hurry begun.

5. Phrs.: (1) in a couple ofhurries, without delay. Gen.(exc. I.)Sc.; (2) in a hurry, suddenly, unexpectedly. Gen.(exc. I.)Sc.; (3) take yer hurry (in yer han'), take your time (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl., Uls. 1953 Traynor; ne.Sc., w. and sm.Sc. 1957); (4) to tak a hurried death, to die suddenly.(1) Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch (1839) xix.:
Of Nanse brushed in a couple of hurries.
(2) Mry. 1865 W. H. L. Tester Poems 141:
Did he dee in a hurry? D'ye think was he rory?
(4) Ags. 1896 J. Stirton Thrums 40:
It has been said that he was married and had a family. It has even been declared that his wife “took a hurried death.”

6. Combs.: (1) hurry-burry, tumult, confusion, excited bustle, a to-do (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Cai. 1902 E.D.D.). Gen.(exc. I.)Sc. Also used adv. (Abd. 1825 Jam.); (2) hurry gurry, id. (m.Lth., Bwk., Lnk. 1957).(1) Abd. 1739 Caled. Mag. (1788) 498:
The hurry-burry now began, . . . Wi' routs and raps frae man to man.
Abd. 1813 D. Anderson Poems 116:
But hurry burry runnin' loupin', As till red fires.
m.Sc. 1827 A. Rodger P. Cornclips 59:
I'll just tak' ye at your word, An' end this hurry-burry.
Fif. 1894 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin x.:
I' the midst o' the general hurrie burrie I glidit to the door like a ghaist.
Abd. 1958 People's Journal (12 April) 2:
Ah can forsee a richt hurry burry on the ferms or the seed's a' gotten in.
(2) Fif. p.1840 Mod. Sc. Poets (Edwards 1885) VIII. 160:
Ever in a hurry gurry, Frae mornin's peep to gloamin' gray.
Lnk. 1880 Clydesdale Readings 158:
The hurry-gurry that took place wi' Nan an' me at Kelvin Brig, anent the carryin' o' the bundle.

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"Hurry v., n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 29 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/hurry_v_n1>

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