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: 1822-1841
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POULLIE, n. Also poolie, pull(e)y. [′puli.]
1. A young hen, esp. one for the table, a chicken, pullet (Uls. 1966), comb. poullie-hen, id. (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 385). Also fig. of a weak or spiritless person.n.Sc. 1822 E. Burt Letters I. 17 Note:
Had it been for dinner, he would probably have recommended . . . a pully.Sc. 1827 C. I. Johnstone Eliz. de Bruce I. xii.:
Mrs. Hurcheon's compliments, and would be obligated, besides payment, for another poullie hen.Ags. 1841 Montrose Review (6 Aug.) 255:
You, ye blusterin', noisy bullie, To ca' me wandocht, weary poolie.
2. A generic name for any small wading-bird, “little birds that go flocking over the sand” (Rs. 1920).
[Appar. a late borrowing, orig. as a cookery term, of Fr. poulet, a chicken. Hence the pronunciation.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Poullie n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 12 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/poullie>
