Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology Cite this entry

CARRY, CARRIE, Cary, Cairie, Cair(r)y, Kerry, n.1 [′kɑr, ′kɛr]

1. A two-wheeled barrow used for moving short, heavy weights; “the sort of barrow employed in moving harrows from one field to another” (Lth. 1898 E.D.D., carry). Sc. 1820  Caled. Mercury (20 July):
Alexander then asked a loan of her carrie.

2. A (heavy) weight or burden (Abd. 1825 Jam.2). Known to our Abd., Ags., Fif. and Kcb. correspondents (1938). Bnff. 1938 2 :
Here's a bag o' neeps t' ye; it's been a gey cairry.
Ags. 1894  “F. Mackenzie” in People's Friend (9 April) 235/2:
If it werena that it's metal I wad say ye're on the road to finishin' a shepherd's crook. It'll be a heavy carry, I'm thinkin'.
Lth. 1925  C. P. Slater Marget Pow 14:
We saw . . . the Coronating chair . . . naething more nor less than a stone the English took from the Scotch folk! . . . It must have been a heavy carry.
Rnf. 1935  J. L. Kerr Woman of Glenshiels xiv.:
“You've got a carry there,” he said, nodding to her pack.

3. Employing of a golf-caddy; employment as a golf-caddy. Fif. 1938 1 :
This is a championship round and the carry will cost you five shillings.
Lnk. 1928  H. Lauder Roamin' in the Gloamin' 33:
We boys used to meet the golfers at the train and . . . I got my “carries” with the best of them.

4. “The distance the girder of a bridge spans” (Inv. 1905 E.D.D. Suppl.).

5. A “lift,” in a vehicle or otherwise (Cai.7 (kerry), Abd.19 1938). Mry. 1938  (per Abd.9):
I heard a boy in Elgin say to a man passing with a horse and cart: “Will ye gie's a carry?”
Wgt. 1880  G. Fraser Lowland Lore 134:
She [a hare] got a guid lang carry [in a sack]!

6. “The motion of the clouds. They are said to have a great carry, when they move with velocity before the wind” (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; wm.Sc. [1835–1837] Laird of Logan (1868) App. 490, cairie; Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 124). In pl.: “fleecy driving clouds” (Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn., kerries). Known to Bnff.2 (cairry), Abd.22, Ags.1, Fif.10, Lnk.3, Arg.1, Kcb.9 1938. Sc. 1896  A. Cheviot Proverbs 394:
When the carry gaes west, Gude weather is past.
Mry.(D) 1924  J. C. Austin in Swatches o' Hamespun 78:
The laden carry frae the north Had cled auld Moray lan'.
Ags. a.1832  “G.G.” Our old Neighbours (1887) 45:
Wi' that carry on the sky, we'll no sail the night.
Gall. c.1867 3 :
“Will it keep up, think ye?” “Maybe, if the carry of the clouds disna change.”
Slk. 1831  Hogg Songs 122:
D'ye see yon cloud sae dun, That sails aboon the carry?

7. Extended to mean the sky (Bnff.2, Abd.19 1938). Also fig. Mry. 1925 1 :
There's no a cloud in a' the carry.
Ags. 1894  A. Reid Sangs o' the Heatherland 64:
My cairy's fu' o' starnies That beam wi love an' joy.
Rnf. 1844  E. Polin in Book Sc. Song (ed. Whitelaw) 96:
Though the cary be dark whiles, There's aye some bit star, Tae keep us reflectin' “It's weel it's nae waur.”





Try an Advanced Search

Browse SND: