peerie

English

Pronunciation
  • Rhymes: -ɪəɹi

Adjective

peerie (comparative peerier, superlative peeriest)

  1. (chiefly Shetland and Orkney) Small, tiny.

Noun

peerie (plural peeries)

  1. A Shetland sheepdog.
  2. Alternative form of peery (“spinning top”)

Scots

Etymology 1

Unknown.

Alternative forms

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈpiːri/

Adjective

peerie (comparative peerier, superlative peeriest)

  1. (Orkney, Shetland) small, little, tiny
Usage notes
  • In modern Orcadian Scots, peedie gradually replaces this term.
Derived terms
  • Peerie Sea (a placename, literally “little sea”)
  • peerie folk (fairies, literally “little folk”)

Etymology 2

From peer (“pear”) +‎ -ie, due to the resemblance of some spinning tops to pears.

Noun

peerie (plural peeries)

  1. A spinning top.
Descendants
  • → English: peery

References
  • “peerie” in the Dictionary of the Scots Language, Edinburgh: Scottish Language Dictionaries.
  • Flaws, Margaret, Lamb, Gregor (1996) The Orkney Dictionary, Kirkwall, Orkney: Orkney Language and Culture Group, published 2001, →ISBN
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