peerie

¹

/ ˈpiːrɪ /

noun

1. a spinning top

peerie

²

/ ˈpiːrɪ /

adjective

1. dialect.
   small

Word History and Origins

Origin of peerie¹

C19: perhaps from peir a Scot variant of pear, alluding to the top's shape

Origin of peerie²

C19: of uncertain origin; perhaps from Norwegian dialect piren niggardly, thin

Example Sentences

Up the road on the high street, baker Cherl Maclennan, who owns Fine Peerie Cakes and describes herself as a "true blue Shetlander", agrees.

From BBC

Peerie, Peery, pēr′i, n. a top spun with a string.

From Project Gutenberg

It was not very long after the old woman had gone to rest before the door opened, and the Peerie Boy appeared once more with a number of webs of cloth upon his shoulder.

From Project Gutenberg

So she mentioned first one name and then another, always pretending to think that she had hit upon the right one; and all the time the Peerie Boy jumped from side to side with delight, for he thought that she would never find out the right name, and that half of the cloth would be his.

From Project Gutenberg

Meanwhile the Giant was coming down the hill in the darkening, and, to his astonishment, he met a troop of little Peerie Folk toiling up it, looking as if they were so tired that they could hardly get along.

From Project Gutenberg