Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1908-1958
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RUSSIE, n.1 Also russi, russy; russa.
1. A male horse, a stallion (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., russa, Sh. 1968), esp. in fishermen's taboo-language (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928). Used attrib. in combs. russie-foal, a young stallion (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1908 Jak. (1928)), hence by extension, a foal with a matted shaggy coat (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1968), a slovenly unkempt person (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.); a nickname for a native of Fetlar in Shetland where horses were bred in large numbers (Sh. 1883 J. R. Tudor Ork. and Sh. 615, Sh. 1968); russy-girs, couch-grass, Agropyron repens (Ork. 1929 Marw.); and in a more gen. sense = male, in e.g. russa-bairn, a male child, boy (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XI. 155).Sh. 1958 Shetland News (30 Dec.) 4:
Mirlin laek a russi-foal.
2. A shaggy unkempt person (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.). Cf. russie-foal above.
3. A mare, esp. in sea taboo-speech.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
Russa is com inna-dikes.
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"Russie n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/russie_n1>
