dautie - From Ulster to America
Source: From Ulster to America: The Scotch-Irish Heritage of American English
Author: Michael Montgomery
Comments: From Ulster to America recounts the lasting impact eighteenth-century settlers from Ulster have made on the development of the English language of the United States. The book documents over 500 vocabulary items contributed to American English by these ‘Scotch-Irish’ settlers. Each ‘shared’ term with its meaning is authenticated by quotations from both sides of the Atlantic. This searchable online version of his book takes its text from the dictionary part of the second edition published by the Ullans Press in 2017.
dautie, dawtie n A sweetheart, dear or favorite one. [origin unknown; oed daut vb ‘to pet, fondle, caress, make much of’ Scottish a1513→ dautie n ‘a person caressed or indulged; a darling, pet, favourite’; dost dautie n ‘a pet, darling, special favourite’ 1676→]
Ulst.:
1811 Boyle Poems 5 But aiblins she’ll return again, / An’ wi’ me dwell; / An’ daut me like a sukin’ wean; / Sae, frien’, farewell.
1832 McKenzie Masonic Chaplet 25 I’ve seen thee by thy mither’s knee, / Her gowden-hair’d — her dawted wean.
U.S.:
1905 Miles Spirit of Mts 100 You little dawtie, little poppee-doll! Bless hits little angel-lookin’ time!
1930 Shoemaker 1300 Penn Words 19 dautie = a favorite child, or darling.
Purchase From Ulster to America
The second, revised edition of Michael Montgomery’s From Ulster to America is now available here:
From Ulster to America: The Scotch-Irish Heritage of American English (Europe)
From Ulster to America: The Scotch-Irish Heritage of American English (North America)