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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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POTTIE, n., v. Also potty. [′pote]

I. n. 1. Putty (Gsw. 1753 Burgh Rec. Gsw. (1911) 363; Cai. 1903 E.D.D.). Gen.Sc.Gsw. 1719 Burgh Rec. Gsw. (1909) 60:
One thowsand and twelve losens fine glass, at four shilling six pennies the losen, including the pottie.Per. 1766 H. Robertson School of Arts 197:
When the second priming is dry, stop all holes and cracks with the potty.Ork. 1779 P. Fea Diary (13 Oct.):
Gave Jo Linklet 3 Sh to buy pottie in Kirkwall for me.Sc. 1788 Scots Mag. (Sept.) 434:
On one of these occasions he observed the key of the outer door hung upon a nail near by it, and without taking it down, clapped some potty upon it, and carried away the wards.e.Lth. 1814 Foord Acct. Bk. MS. 161:
To wood and Scrow nails to potty.Abd. 1865 G. MacDonald Alec Forbes xxi.:
Ye turn'd it oot jist as saft's potty, and it wore oot raither suner.Kcb. 1894 Crockett Lilac Sunbonnet xxiii.:
Be canny on this side o' the poopit; the hinge is juist pitten on wi' potty.Gsw. 1902 J. J. Bell Wee MacGreegor iv.:
An' I'm gaun to ha'e big dauds of potty fur stickin' in holes.Gsw. 1936 Gsw. Herald (23 Nov.):
Empty Paint Tins (new), Quantity Potty Pail Lids.

Combs.: (1) pottie ark, see quot. (Per. 1966); (2) pottie lime, lime which has been slaked with water to the consistency of putty, as part of the process of making old-fashioned mortar (Fif., Kcb. 1966).(1) Fif. 1957:
A pottie ark is a big heap of sand, with a "well" in the centre into which the pottie lime is poured. Sand is gradually mixed into the lime from the sides of the well, and the whole thing is allowed to sit till it is ready for use as mortar. There is no container — the pottie ark is simply the heap of sand on the ground. The practice is now obsolete.

2. Used attrib. with a surname as an epithet for a glazier (Abd. 1966).Hdg. 1883 J. Martine Reminisc. 163:
Adam once went down to Gullane, &c., to clean clocks, accompanied with "Pottie" Knox, a glazier, to mend "lozens".

II. v. 1. To apply putty (to a surface), to plug or stick with putty. Gen.Sc.Gsw. 1754 Burgh Rec. Gsw. (1911) 416:
13s. 4d. sterling for 6 days of 2 men at pottying the windows of the new church.Dmb. 1844 W. Cross Disruption xxxvii.:
The house is gaun to wrack for want o' pottying and plaistering.Per. 1879 P. R. Drummond Bygone Days 212:
He has been pottying at it a' winter.Lth. 1895 D. Cuthbertson Auld Kirk Minister 17:
Honest God-fearin' wark, wi' no pottyin o' holes for the sake of appearance.

2. Fig., in phr. it winna pottie, of a story, plan, or the like: "it won't do", "it won't stick", "it won't hold water", "it won't wash" (Sc. 1896 A. Cheviot Proverbs 206; wm.Sc. 1966).Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr. Duguid 95:
"Na! na! Johnnie", quo' he, "it'll no potty ava!"Sc. 1913 H. P. Cameron Imit. Christ i. vii. 12:
Bena crouse o' yer guid warks for God's rightins an' man's dinna potty ava, for what pleesures man is aften scunnersome tae God.