Glossary of Scottish Dialect : P

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These definitions are taken from the “Glossary of Scottish Dialect” from The Harvard Classics volume 6, “The Poems and Songs of Robert Burns,” 1909. The volume is in the public domain. Aside from their inherent interest, they are valuable to anyone reading the work of Burns.

Pack an’ thick, confidential.
Paidle, to paddle, to wade; to walk with a weak action.
Paidle, nail-bag.
Painch, the paunch.
Paitrick, a partridge; used equivocally of a wanton girl.
Pang, to cram.
Parishen, the parish.
Parritch, porridge.
Parritch-pats, porridge-pots.
Pat, pot.
Pat, put.
Pattle, pettle, a plow-staff.
Paughty, haughty.
Paukie, pauky, pawkie, artful, sly.
Pechan, the stomach.
Pechin, panting, blowing.
Penny-fee, wage in money.
Penny-wheep, small beer.
Pettle, v. pattle.
Philibeg, the Highlander’s kilt.
Phraisin, flattering, wheedling.
Phrase, to flatter, to wheedle.
Pickle, a few, a little.
Pint (Scots), three imperial pints.
Pit, put.
Placads, proclamations.
Plack, four pennies (Scots).
Plackless, penniless.
Plaiden, coarse woolen cloth.
Plaister, plaster.
Plenish’d, stocked.
Pleugh, plew, a plow.
Pliskie, a trick.
Pliver, a plover.
Pock, a poke, a bag, a wallet.
Poind, to seize, to distrain, to impound.
Poortith, poverty.
Pou, to pull.
Pouch, pocket.
Pouk, to poke.
Poupit, pulpit.
Pouse, a push.
Poussie, a hare (also a cat).
Pouther, powther, powder.
Pouts, chicks.
Pow, the poll, the head.
Pownie, a pony.
Pow’t, pulled.
Pree’d, pried (proved), tasted.
Preen, a pin.
Prent, print.
Prie, to taste.
Prief, proof.
Priggin, haggling.
Primsie, dim. of prim, precise.
Proveses, provosts.
Pu’, to pull.
Puddock-stools, toadstools, mushrooms.
Puir, poor.
Pun’, pund, pound.
Pursie, dim. of purse.
Pussie, a hare.
Pyet, a magpie.
Pyke, to pick.
Pyles, grains
.

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