Scots

Noun

tammie norrie ‎(plural tammie norries)

1. puffin
2. stupid-looking, bashful man

Quotations

• 1842, unknown source quoted or summarised in 2002 2nd edition of Thesaurus of traditional English metaphors, by Peter Richard Wilkinson, page 346:

  Tammie Norrie [Sc : 1842] A stupid looking, bashful man; a puffin.

• 1867, The Sailor's Word-Book, by William Henry Smyth and Edward Belcher, page 500:

  NORRIE, and TAMMIE NORRIE. The Scotch name for the puffin.

• 1873, Handbook for Northumberland, by John Murray, page 215 (from 1892 quote in English Folk Rhymes, by G. F. Northall, page 276):

  Tammie Norrie o' the Bass, / Canna kiss a pretty lass.

• 1896, Proverbs, proverbial expressions, and popular rhymes of Scotland, by Andrew Cheviot, page 310:

  Tammie Norrie o' the Bass, / Canna kiss a bonnie lass.

  “The Tammie Norrie” or puffin has a peculiar beak. The rhyme is a hit at bashful lovers. –“The Antiquary.” ch. 7. So–

  “A Tammie Norrie” is a stupid-looking, bashful man.