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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

NABBIE, n. Also nab(b)y, nobbie. A type of herring-fishing boat orig. with a raking mast, lug-sail and jib, used esp. on Loch Fyne and the Firth of Clyde from the 19th c. (Gall. 1884 A. Glass Adventures 8; Fif. 1935 Weekly Scotsman (21 Dec.) 3; Arg. 1936 L. MacInnes Dial. S. Kintyre 15, naby; Ayr., Wgt. 1963). [′nɑbi]Sc. 1884 R. Hogarth Herring Fishery 4:
These boats were round-sterned — from fourteen to sixteen feet keel and about seven feet beam. It was not possible to go any distance to look for herrings in boats of this description. They were known by the name of “nabbies ”.wm.Sc. 1906 H. W. Smyth Mast and Sail (1929) 122:
The favourite boat in the outer part of the Firth of Clyde and Loch Fyne is a skiff known as the “Nabby ”, one of the prettiest, smartest, and handiest forms of sea boat to be found . . . these boats run from 24 to 28 feet of keel.Sc. 1955 Mearns Leader (17 June):
46 ft. “Nabby ” boat, June Rose, from Fisherrow. She is very well equipped and powered by a 66 h.p. Kelvin Diesel.Sc. 1959 Peter John Norton The End of the Voyage 85:
The Loch Fyne skiff or nabbie is a graceful bird-like craft. Fif. 1985 Peter Smith Lammas Drave 164:
The Nobbie, or Nabbie, was the name given to the ring net boats which were generally varnished and had canoe shaped sterns. They ranged in size from 35 ft to 55 ft and were powered by diesel engines.