Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1901-1909
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POO, n. Also pou, pow. The common edible crab, Cancer pagurus (e.Lth. 1808 Jam.; Lth., Bwk. 1953; e.Lth. 1980s; Bwk. 1990s). Combs. poo-craive, a crab-trap (Bwk. 1966). See Cruive; pow-tae, a crab's claw (e.Lth. 1825 Jam.). [pu:]Bwk. 1901 Hist. Bwk. Nat. Club XVIII. 131:
Aye, it needs a jabble on the waiter to gar the poos creep.Edb. 1909 Bk. Old Edb. Club II. 188:
Another, and no doubt older partan cry was, “Caller poos”, this being more usually adopted in the humbler parts of the town.
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"Poo n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/poo>
