moudiewart

plural moudiewarts · alternative moudiewark

1. ScotlandA mole (burrowing rodent).

   My faith, he's as black as a craw, and as sleek as a moudiewart.

   1828, M. Corbett, Tales and Legends - Volume 1, page 62

   2 more examples

   It's an unyearthly kind of trade, turning night intil day, and working like moudiewarts in the dark, when decent folks are in their beds sleeping—And so, as I was saying, ye see, it happened ae Sunday night that a chap cam to the back door; and the mistress too heard it.

   1853, David Macbeth Moir, The Life of Mansie Wauch, Tailor in Dalkeith, page 96

   O gin my sons were moudiewarts To hide into the earth, O gin my head lay in the mools Ere I had gien them birth !

   1925, Alexander Keith, Last leaves of traditional ballads and ballad airs, page 255