Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(Aus.) tetchy, irritable.

1885		Bulletin (Sydney) 14 Mar. 13/2: That’s true; but, Fred, he wasn’t a bad lot, and you know we might get a scottier drill master next time.
1906		Sun. Times (Perth) 23 Dec. 1/1: the horse-riding goods clerk is still ‘scotty’ over his somersault.
1910		Bulletin (Sydney) 17 Nov. 31/2: ‘Look ’ee here,’ he said, quite scotty; ‘these d--- pomes will drive me dotty.’.
1938		F. Anthony ‘Rivals’ in Me And Gus (1977) 67: ‘Don’t get scotty, Ethel,’ I pleaded.
1939		J. Campbell Babe is Wise 313: Now, you’re not scottie with me, are you?
1982		N. Keesing Lily on the Dustbin 164: Getting a bit wild was called getting ‘scotty’. This tended to be said to children: ‘Be good now. I’m a bit scotty with you’.