Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SLY-GOOSE, n. Pl. -geese. The sheldrake, Tadorna tadorna (Ork. 1777 J. Lightfoot Flora Scot. I. 45, a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 201, 1929 Marw., Ork. 1970). Also given as the speckled or red-throated diver, Colymbus stellatus (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 201), but this may be an erroneous identification. [′slɑegøs]Ork. 1774 G. Low Tour (1879) 43:
The Slygoose and sometimes the Dunter or Eider Duck build here.Ork. 1806 P. Neill Tour 54:
It has got the name of Sly-goose from the arts which the natives find it to employ to decoy them from the neighbourhood of its nest.Ork. 1904 J. M. Campbell Notes on Bell Rock 78:
Known as the burrow duck, or sly-goose.