"scourie" means: A Scottish name for a young gull — specifically a gull that has not yet acquired adult plumage. Young gulls go through several years of mott.... This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
scourie
A Scottish name for a young gull — specifically a gull that has not yet acquired adult plumage.
Definitions
#1·Apr 28, 2026
A Scottish name for a young gull — specifically a gull that has not yet acquired adult plumage. Young gulls go through several years of mottled brown and white plumage before becoming the gray-and-white adults familiar to most people. 'Scourie' is a dialectal term from Scottish coastal communities and reflects the rich local vocabulary for seabirds that developed in fishing regions.
The scourie sat on the wall looking bewildered while the adult gulls fought over a chip bag.
Origin: Scottish dialect term for a young gull; possibly from Gaelic or Norse roots through Scottish coastal vocabulary. Exact etymology uncertain. Editorial expansion authored on Slangora (model-assisted, hedged).
For parents
"scourie" means: A Scottish name for a young gull — specifically a gull that has not yet acquired adult plumage. Young gulls go through several years of mott.... This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.
For ESL learners
"scourie" means: A Scottish name for a young gull — specifically a gull that has not yet acquired adult plumage. Young gulls go through several years of mott.... Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. Note the regional or dialect label (Scottish) — usage may sound odd outside that variety. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally
Cluster: wealthy
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#2·Apr 27, 2026
(Scotland) A young gull.
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For specific readers
Why is this section here?
Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.
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Other words near "scourie" (S)
Scotch tapeScotland YardScottScottieScottish BordersScoukScouse browScouseratiScoutscouthouseScout Sundayscove
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