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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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PEETY, n., v. Also peetie, peity, petie. Sc. form and usages of Eng. pity. See P.L.D. §45. [′piti]

I. n. As in Eng. in Sc. phrs.: (1) peety but, it is a pity that . . . not, if only. Cf. God nor, deil nor, etc., s.v. Nor; (2) to be a (the) peety o' (a person, thing), to be a pity about (Ork., m. and s.Sc., Uls. 1965). Obs. or arch. in Eng.; as a threat: to be a bad lookout for, the worse for; used ironically, to serve (one) right (Sh., Cai., Ags., Per. 1965).(1) Sc. 1829 Scott Journal (30 May):
Pity but they would use a steam-boat to tow them out!(2) Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality xiv.:
It's a sair pity o' his hoast, for it aye comes on just when he's at the best o't [a sermon].Uls. 1879 W. Lyttle Paddy McQuillan 79:
Puir fellow, a declare it's a peety o' him.e.Sc. 1900 E. Strain Elmslie's Drag-Net 151:
If the doags dinna get a haud o' something, it's a peety o's!Dmb. 1931 A. J. Cronin Hatter's Castle iii. x.:
I hope ye have done splendid. . . . For if ye haven't then, by God! it'll be the pity of ye.Ork. 1952 R. T. Johnston Stenwick Days (1984) 21:
"Weel, I wur aafil herd up in them days, an I thowt whit a peety id wur that this chance o' makkin' a fortune wur gaun tae wist, the wey I hid noathing tae back the horse wi'. ... "m.Sc. 1979 Tom Scott in Joy Hendry Chapman 23-4 (1985) 89:
And that wad be a petie, wad it no,
for he [a badger]'s easy tamed, and wi his bawsont face
and eident, rootlin weys, he's entertainin
(tho treacherous and never to be trustit).
This countrie's no that rowth o carnivores
that we wadnae miss his, kin o the skunk tho he be.wm.Sc. 1985 Liz Lochhead Tartuffe 12:
Oh quite the philosopher! Well that's me told.
A solomon! A dominie! you're no' saft -
A peety that a' body but yirsel' is daft.m.Sc. 1988 William Neill Making Tracks 76:
A peetie tes thare's nane o thaim tak tent
o whit the haill shaif o his screivins meant,
insteid o gien thir yearlie coamic turns
in speik faur mair weel-kent in Newton Mearns.
Goad, the haill ettle o the bard's been bent
sae ilka thowless philistine kin pent
his 'Life of Burns' owre neaps, aitmeal-an-thairms.Dundee 1991 Ellie McDonald The Gangan Fuit 44:
Syne he maun spik lik sae - "lassies" - or "bonnie lassies" - "I want ye" - or - "I wad prig at ye" - or - "for onie sake dinnae be feartit an trummle. Gin ye think I come forrit as a lion than peity help us for I'm nae sic thing. ..."Ags. 1993 Mary McIntosh in Joy Hendry Chapman 74-5 112:
The bairn wis claikin an she made tae gie is aisment. Peety, smuired ower the lang days, wis like tae brak in on his venim.w.Lth. 2000 Davie Kerr A Puckle Poems 14:
A wise man cam, fae oot the east,
ti link us wi Auld Reekie.
The railway track
should be put back.
If no, - it's mair the peety.

Adj. peetifu(l), of persons, where mod. Eng. uses the word only of things: exciting pity and compassion, piteous, pitiable (Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 104, a.1838 Jam. MSS. XI. 142). Gen.Sc. Phr. the peetifu market, the spot at a country fair where the girls congregate who have not found an admirer to escort them. Also fig.Ayr. 1811 W. Aiton Agric. Ayr. 572:
The place where groups of them [country girls at a fair] stand without being called upon is termed "the pitiful market".wm.Sc. 1854 Laird of Logan 81:
You would hear that Jenny is in the pitifu' market again.Kcd. 1900 Crockett Stickit Minister's Wooing 320:
The streets sae het and dry, the blawin' stoor, the peetifu' bairns in the gutter.

II. v. As in Eng. Sc. phrs.: 1. pity me!, an exclamation of surprise, disapproval, disgust, or the like, "bless my soul!" Gen.Sc.; 2. pity thee wit!, "have some sense!", "don't be silly!", "bless your heart!" (Ork. 1965).1. Sc. 1826 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1863) I. 147:
Dinna loot wi' that lang back o' yours, Mr. Tickler. Pity me — I hear't crackin.Per. 1883 R. Cleland Inchbracken xxxiv.:
Pity me! gin there's no' a wummin i' my very bed.Sc. 1896 Scots Mag. (Dec.) 26:
Peety me, what's Leddy Marget thinkin' o' tae tak up wi' the likes o' him?m.Sc. 1991 Tom Scott in Tom Hubbard The New Makars 39:
Or her that saved Ulyssie frae the swaws
Petied this cheil tae, I dinna ken,
But ken some ferlie spell kept him frae daeth.2. Ork. 1912 Old-Lore Misc. V. ii. 67:
Pity thee wit, Bruicie (at was da factor) 'ill never fash thee for a ting.