Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1879-1962
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PLUNKIE, n., adj. Also plunkey, pleunkie (Ork. 1929 Old-Lore Misc. XI. III. 80), plunki. [′plʌŋki]
I. n. 1. A practical joke, prank (Sh. 1825 Jam., 1908 Jak. (1928), plunki, 1914 Angus Gl., plunki; Ork. 1929 Marw.; I.Sc. 1966); a stratagem, wile, trick. Phr. to play plunkie, to play tricks, also to play truant (‡Ork. 1975).Sh. 1879 Shetland Times (29 April):
Misfortune had still a “plunkie” in store for him.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 132:
For a' sheu kent hid might hae been A plunkey o the Deil.Ork. 1931 J. Leask Peculiar People 126:
Hid waas guid mains api dem, bit ever hard du o' seekan a pleunkie to win awa?Sh. 1962 New Shetlander No. 63. 4:
Da boys aye played plunkies apon him.
2. A difficult situation, a predicament, quandary, “pickle”.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Noo I war in a bonnie plunky.
II. adj. or attrib. Cunning, sly, full of guile, tricky (Cld. 1880 Jam.).
[Orig. doubtful. II. if genuine, may be a different word, ? from Plunk, v.2]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Plunkie n., adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 12 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/plunkie>
