Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BELKIE, -Y, n., v. [′bɛlki]
I. n. The belly, in comb. gruelly-belkie, “porridge belly”, a nickname for an inhabitant of Sanday in Ork. See Gruel, 1.
II. v. To drink in great quantities, like an animal (Ork. 1973 Orcadian (20 Dec.)). [From Norw. dial., O.N. belg, bag, belly, the exact formation being somewhat doubtful, poss. a double dim. form, used in II. also as a verb. For II. cf. Norw. dial. belg(j)a i seg, to stuff oneself with food.]
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"Belkie n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 12 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/snd00087942>
