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: 1774-1805
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RITTO, n.1 Most freq. in dim. forms rittock (Ork. 1968), rittoch (Ork. 1806 P.Neill Tour 203); ruttok (Sh. 1932 J. Saxby Trad. Lore 198); rippock (Sh. 1806 P. Neill Tour 203), rippek (Jak., Sh. 1968); and in comb. rippek-maw (Id.). A name given to one of the Laridae or gull family, as the tern, Sterna hirundo (Ork. a.1795 G. Low Fauna Orcad. (1813) 125; Cai. 1887 Harvie-Brown & Buckley Fauna Cai. 228, Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Ork. 1929 Marw.), the (immature) kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Ork. 1929 Marw., Sh. 1950), the black-headed gull, Larus ridibundus (Ork. 1891 Harvie-Brown & Buckley Fauna Ork. 230, 1929 Marw.). Also fig. a spiteful waspish woman (Sh. 1968, rittock). [Sh. ′rɪtək; Ork. ′rɪtʊ]Ork. 1774 G. Low Tour (1879) 43:
The Rittock or Great Tern is the most numerous species.Ork. 1805 G. Barry Hist. Ork. 303:
The Greater Tern, which is here known by the name of the Rittoch.
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"Ritto n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 8 May 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/ritto_n1>
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