The spelling of the word "hurdies" may be confusing for some English speakers. It is actually a Scottish term referring to the buttocks or hips. The correct pronunciation is /ˈhɜːrdiːz/, with the 'h' pronounced as a voiceless glottal fricative, the 'r' pronounced with a rolled sound, and the final 'ies' sounding like 'eez'. While the term may be uncommon in other English-speaking countries, it is widely used in Scottish literature and cultural references.
The word "hurdies" derives from Middle English "hurdis", which in turn comes from the Old English word "hyrdas". The root word can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic term "hurdiz", meaning "rump" or "hindquarters". This term is closely related to the Old Norse word "hrut", meaning "ram" and the Old High German word "hurz", which means "haunch". Over time, the word "hurdies" has evolved to refer specifically to the buttocks or the backside of a person.