Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1903-1909, 1972
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WHUPPITY-SCOORIE, n. Also whuppity-stoorie (by confusion with Whippitie-Stourie, n.). A traditional custom among young people in Lanark celebrated on 1 March (see quots.) (Lnk. 1974).Lnk. 1903 R. Ford Children's Rhymes 85:
"Whuppity scoorie," a game peculiar to Lanark, and to the boys of Lanark, and played only once a year.Lnk. 1909 Scotsman (2 March) 7:
The ancient honoured custom known as "Whuppity Scoorie" was celebrated by the youth of Lanark last night, and was witnessed by a crowd of several hundred people. The origin of the custom is unknown, but is generally supposed to herald in the entrance of spring. From the months of October to February the town bell in the steeple is not tolled at six o'clock in the evening, but during the other months it rings at that hour daily. On the first day of March, when the bell is rung for the first time after its five months' silence, the boys of the town congregate at the Cross with a bonnet to which a piece of string is attached, and so soon as the peal of the bell rings out, the parish church is walked round three times, and thereafter a dash is made to meet the boys of New Lanark. On their meeting there is a stand-up fight, the weapons used being the stringed bonnets.Lnk. 1972 Sunday Post (27 Feb.) 2:
Lanark's ancient ritual of "Whuppity Scoorie," held on Thursday. . . . The ceremony calls for youngsters to run round the old parish church swinging paper balls on string.
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"Whuppity-scoorie n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/Whuppity_scoorie_n>
