Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1788-1902
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TARRIE, n. Also tarry; terrie, terry; taurie (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.). A terrier dog (Rnf., Ayr. 1825 Jam.; Slg., Ayr. 1972). Comb. tarry-dog, terry-, id. [′tɑre; ′tɛre]Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems 177:
We clamb the braes like tarries.Ayr. 1817 D. McKillop Poems 40:
Wee tarries in the hole are snoukin'.Sc. 1836 J. Baillie Witchcraft iv. ii.:
She girns like a brock at a terry-dog.Ayr. 1841 J. Paton Songs 12, 16:
Accompanied wi' the best breed O' Gibbie's tarry dogs, sir. . . The death o' a tarry, goldfinch, or canary.Gsw. 1850 R. Stewart Musings 60:
She was mastiff and tarry by nature.Lnk. 1881 D. Thomson Musings 232:
For love, aye as gleg as a knife, Ran in tae my heart like a tarrie.Slg. 1902 W. C. Paterson Echoes 110:
Pugs, tauries, collies, mony ithers.
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"Tarrie n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/tarrie>
