well-thriven

en-adj

well-thriven (comparative more well-thriven, superlative most well-thriven)

more well-thriven (comparative)
most well-thriven (superlative)

Then I have a sort of quarrel against his face, though in his person, for a well-thriven man, tolerably genteel.

1748, [Samuel Richardson], “Letter XLVI”, in Clarissa. Or, The History of a Young Lady: […], volume (please specify |volume=I to VII), London: […] S[amuel] Richardson; […], →OCLC:

(now chiefly Scotland, England regional) That has developed well; flourishing, thriving, healthy.


herriment

en-noun

herriment (countable and uncountable, plural herriments)

herriments (plural)
herryment (alternative)

It was then as much the scene of continual spreaths, liftings, reavings, and herriments, as the Border country itself.

1836, Tait's Edinburgh Magazine, volume 3, page 426:

(Scotland, obsolete) harassment; depredation


spreath

spreath (countable and uncountable, plural spreaths)

From Scots, from Scottish Gaelic sprèidh, from Middle Irish spréid (“cattle, wealth”), from Latin praeda (“plunder, spoils; profit; prey”), thus a doublet of prey. Per one hypothesis, also a doublet of spree.

der

(Scotland, obsolete) A raid in order to steal cattle.


confusedlie

en-adv

confusedlie (comparative more confusedlie, superlative most confusedlie)

more confusedlie (comparative)
most confusedlie (superlative)

Iohnson [i.e., Ben Jonson] they say 's turned Epigrammatist, / Soe think not I, believe it they that list. / Peruse his booke, thou shalt not find a dram / Of witt befitting a true Epigram. / Perhaps some scraps of play-bookes thou maist see, / Collected heer & there confusedlie, / Which piece his broken stuffe; if thou but note, / Iust like soe many patches on a cote.

1614–1616, R. C., “Scribimus indocti doctique epigrammata passim”, in J[oseph] M[eadows] Cowper, editor, The Times’ Whistle: Or A Newe Daunce of Seven Satires, and Other Poems: … Now First Edited from MS. Y. 8. 3. in the Library of Canterbury Cathedral; […], London: Published for the Early English Text Society, by N[icholas] Trübner & Co., […], published 1871, →OCLC, part II (Certaine Poems, Comprising Things Naturall, Morrall, & Theologicall), page 132, lines 1–7:

Now ye have the Kingis letter and this ſupplicatioun both coppeit; read and conſidder both the ane and the uther, with the Counſallis anſuer ſent to the ſaid ſupplicatioun, quhilk is ſo ſtrangelie and confuſedlie ſet down that I can not wnderſtand the ſamen perfectlie weill.

1642, John Spalding, edited by James Skene, The History of the Troubles and Memorable Transactions in Scotland and England, from M.DC.XXIV. to M.DC.XLV. … In Two Volumes (Publications; no. 25), volume II, printed at Edinburgh: Bannatyne Club; printed by Ballantyne and Co., published 1829, page 51:

After the prayer, Mr. Byfield the ſcribe, reads the propoſition and the Scriptures, whereupon the Aſſemblie debates in a moſt grave and orderlie way. No man is called up to ſpeak; bot who ſtands up of his own accord, he ſpeaks ſo long as he will without interruption. If two or three ſtand up at once, then the divines confuſedlie calls on his name whom they deſyre to hear firſt: On whom the loudeſt and manieſt voices calls, he ſpeaks.

1643 December 17, R. Baylie [i.e., Robert Baillie], “[Letter to Mr. William Spang, 7 December 1643 [Julian calendar]]”, in The Letters and Journals of Robert Baillie, A.M. Principal of the University of Glasgow. M.DC.XXXVII.–M.DC.LXII. In Three Volumes (Publications; no. 73), volume II, Edinburgh: Bannatyne Club; [printed by Alexander Lawrie & Co. […]], published 1841, →OCLC, pages 108–109:

(chiefly Scotland) Obsolete spelling of confusedly.


paddock-stool

From Middle English paddocstol, paddok stule; equivalent to paddock (“frog; toad”) + stool.

The toad was popularly thought to impersonate the devil; and the toad-stool, pixie stool, or paddock stool was believed to spring from the devil's droppings.

1897, William Thomas Fernie, Herbal Simples Approved for Modern Uses of Cure, page 373:

I asked an old woman in the fields this morning, pointing to a cluster of what we in the north-east corner call paddock-stools, and sometimes fairy-stools.

1911, Joseph Campbell, Mearing Stones: Leaves from My Note-book on Tramp in Donegal:

Sometimes, when Jack happened to be in a humorous frame, he would seat himself at the bottom of the sea on one of the brain-corals, as if he were seated on a large paddock-stool, and then make faces at me, in order, if possible, to make me laugh under water.

2010, R. M. Ballantyne, The Coral Island: A Tale of the Pacific Ocean, page 46:


whatten

Originally a contraction of what kind (of) (the DSL traces the Scots cognate back to Middle English whatkin, whatkyn, but the MED's only example is of the two-word collocation what kyn), later used in place of bare what.

For quotations using this term, see Citations:whatten.

(Northern England, Scotland, Ireland, dialect, archaic) What.


Wee Free

The legions of the Wee Free were receding into the mists of Gaeldom.

1991, Jan Webster, I Only Can Dance With You, page 96:

(Scotland, historical) The Free Kirk, as opposed to the United Free Kirk.


cut about

en-verb

cut about (third-person singular simple present cuts about, present participle cutting about, simple past and past participle cut about)

cuts about (present singular third-person)
cutting about (participle present)
cut about (participle past)
cut about (past)

Calum’s always cutting about spouting shite about his pals.

(intransitive, idiomatic, slang, Scotland) To go around (move from person to person).


diluting juice

en-noun

diluting juice (countable and uncountable, plural diluting juices)

(Scotland) A soft drink made from a fruit-based concentrate diluted with water; squash.


prick-me-dainty

(Scotland, obsolete) An affected individual, one who puts on airs.


gegg

Its meetings have long ceased, and it is only fair to hope that there be none of the young and gay spirits of Glasgow eager to revive so palpable a gegg as the one we have just recorded, […]

1832, The Day (issue 1, part 112, page 175)

The whole gist of the gegg was to be here.

1864 January 10, John Strang, Glasgow and Its Clubs: Or Glimpses of the Condition, Manners, Characters, and Oddities of the City, During the Past and Present Centuries, page 341:


gegg

en-verb

gegg (third-person singular simple present geggs, present participle gegging, simple past and past participle gegged)

geggs (present singular third-person)
gegging (participle present)
gegged (participle past)
gegged (past)

(Scotland, archaic, transitive) To trick or hoax.


mousefall

From Middle English mousfalle, from Old English mūsfealle (“mousetrap”), from Proto-West Germanic *mūsfallā (“mousetrap”), equivalent to mouse + fall. Cognate with Scots mousfall (“mousetrap”), Saterland Frisian Muusefalle (“mousetrap”), West Frisian mûzefalle (“mousetrap”), Dutch muizenval (“mousetrap”), German Low German Muusfall, Muusfalle (“mousetrap”), German Mausfalle, Mausefalle (“mousetrap”).

cog

(now chiefly dialectal, Scotland) mousetrap


unkenning

en-adj

unkenning (comparative more unkenning, superlative most unkenning)

more unkenning (comparative)
most unkenning (superlative)

From un- + kenning, present participle of ken (“to know, perceive”).

(chiefly Scotland) Unknowing, unaware, ignorant.


nignay

nignays (plural)
nigg-nye (alternative)
nig-naye (alternative)

And if you were only to see the sums which those thoughtless young lads, who have ten times more money than wit to guide it, throw away on useless nigg-nyes, while thousands around them are pinched for the necessaries of life, it would make the very hair of your head, my dear Archy, stand up like the locks of Medusa.

1789, John Moore, Zeluco, Valancourt, published 2008, page 270:

He had a lot o' curious auld nig-nayes.

(Scotland, Ireland) Something trivial or worthless.


pawkery

In short, the inhabitants of Italy first subdued mankind by open force; and secondly, by imposition and pawkry.

1789, John Moore, Zeluco, Valancourt, published 2008, page 271:

Pawkrie is no' an ill nest-egg to begin with!


slowrie

...a pot of potatoes in their jackets which swung from the slowrie, the hook over the fire.

Fill the three-legged pot 3/4 full of water and hang it on the slowrie.

1908, Sophia Morrison, Manx Cookery Book:

(chiefly Isle of Man, also Scotland and Ireland) A chain or hook used for hanging a pot while cooking.


snam

en-verb

snam (third-person singular simple present snams, present participle snamming, simple past and past participle snammed)

snams (present singular third-person)
snamming (participle present)
snammed (participle past)
snammed (past)

Blend of snap + nam (“to seize, grab; chew, eat greedily”).

blend

(transitive, Scotland) To snatch with the jaws; snap at something greedily.


honeyblob

(Scotland) A large, ripe, yellow gooseberry.


grumly

en-adj

grumly (comparative grumlier, superlative grumliest)

grumlier (comparative)
grumliest (superlative)

Nothing but clouds of smoke and eddying dust:
A dun and grumly darkness spreads o'er all,
From which arise those horrid sounds, but naught
Distinctive of the fight can I discern.

1804, Joanna Baillie, Constantine Paleologus, act 5:


God bless the Duke of Argyll

God bless the Duke of Argyle (alternative)

A reference to parasites or cutaneous affections that might induce a shrugging reaction. Associated with an apocryphal tale that the Duke erected posts on his land that people found it convenient to rub against.

(Scotland) Said in response to a person shrugging their shoulders.


swally

I flung over my box and he asked if I wanted a "swally" of the South African wine bottle he held up before me.

1987, Agnes Owens, Like Birds in the Wilderness:

They are the one that will keep the party going, take you on to a good late night swally and if you're lucky, hook you up with some afters.

2017 December 15, Jules Boyle, “Roasters you always meet in Glasgow over Christmas”, in Glasgow Live:


capestane

(Scotland) Alternative form of copestone.


sgian dubh

en-noun

sgian dubh (plural sgian dubhs or sgians dubh or (rare) sgianan dubha)

sgian dubhs (plural)
sgians dubh (plural)
sgianan dubha (plural rare)
sgian-dubh (alternative)
skean dhu (alternative)
skean-dhu (alternative)
skene dhu (alternative)
skene-dhu (alternative)
skhian-dhu (alternative)

Borrowed from Scottish Gaelic sgian-dubh: sgian (“knife”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sek- (“to cut; to cut off, sever”)) + dubh (“black; (figurative) hidden”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰewbʰ- (“deep”)).
The plural form sgianan dubha is also borrowed from Scottish Gaelic.

der

[Y]oung Durward sprung lightly as the ounce up into the tree, drew from his pouch that most necessary implement of a Highlander or woodsman, the trusty skene dhu, and, calling to those below to receive the body on their hands, cut the rope asunder in less than a minute after he had perceived the exigency.

1823, [Walter Scott], “The Bohemians”, in Quentin Durward. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC, page 129:

Give me my skene-dhu, and let me go on my road. I should have been half way to Stirling brig by this time—Give me my dirk, and let me go.

1827, [Walter Scott], chapter XIII, in Chronicles of the Canongate; […], volume I (The Two Drovers), Edinburgh: […] [Ballantyne and Co.] for Cadell and Co.; London: Simpkin and Marshall, →OCLC, page 302:

In another moment claymores and skene-dhus gleamed in the grasp of several uplifted hands; [...]

1831, Andrew Picken, “The Deer-stalkers of Glenskiach. A Highland Legend.”, in [Andrew Picken], editor, The Club-book: Being Original Tales, &c. […] (Harper’s Library of Select Novels; XIV), Harper’s stereotype edition, volume II, New York, N.Y.: […] J[ames] & J[ohn] Harper; […], →OCLC, chapter IX, page 133:

The hasps, which were evidently intended to be secured by padlocks, had lost their fastenings, which were supplied by two skean-dhus—the small dagger of the Highlander—which had been thrust through the iron loops, and kept the casket perfectly water-tight.

1839, [George Robert Gleig], “Legends of the Lochs and Glens. No. I.—The Linn of the Caldron.”, in Bentley’s Miscellany, volume V, London: Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 411:

The word sgian now means any kind of knife, but formerly denoted the peculiar dirk which was one of the weapons of the Irish. It was frequently called sgian dubh, i.e. black knife, either from the usual colour of the haft, or from the fatal blow which it so often dealt.

[1857, Standish Hayes O’Grady, editor, Toruigheacht Dhiarmuda agus Ghrainne; or, The Pursuit after Diarmuid O’Duibhne, and Grainne the Daughter of Cormac mac Airt, King of Ireland in the Third Century (Transactions of the Ossianic Society for the Year 1855; III), Dublin: […] [F]or the Ossianic Society, by John O’Daly, […], →OCLC, footnote 3, pages 97–98:

In his hand was a long, sharp-pointed "sgian-dubh," the cherished gift of his father, the plaything of his early youth, and the trusty companion of his manhood and riper years.

1866, P. Dun, “The Earl’s Niece”, in Summer at the Lake of Monteith, Glasgow: […] James Hedderwick & Son […], →OCLC, page 41:

"Will you give me his name?" said Macgregor, "for we have skene dhus in this country." / "His name is John Van Eyck," said Van Dysart; "but as you are never likely to meet him, you can keep your skene dhu in your stocking."

1871, Henry Kingsley, chapter XVI, in Old Margaret. […], volume II, London: Tinsley Brothers, […], →OCLC, page 236:

It strikes me that quite three-fourths of the shops of Inverness are devoted to the sale of articles of Highland costume. Their fronts are hidden by hangings of tartan cloth; the windows are decked with sporrans, dirks, cairngorm plaid-brooches, ram's head snuff[-]boxes, bullocks' horns and skean dhus.

1874 March, Archibald Forbes, “The Inverness Character Fair”, in The Gentleman’s Magazine, volume XII (New Series), London: Grant & Co., […], →OCLC, page 325:

When I first saw engravings of these seals, I took Patrick's to bear the Skene coat, as always known since—three skenes, points upwards, bearing three wolves' heads. The blades show but little, but this could well be, even with skenes dhu, if they were pushed right up to the skull: the heads, however, are far too small.

1890 October, A. P. Skene, “Notes on the Origin of the Name, Family, and Arms of Skene”, in Scottish Notes and Queries, volume V, number 5, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire: D. Wyllie & Son, […], published 1891, →OCLC, section III (Origin of the Arms (continued)), page 86, column 1:

In the simplest form the Highland dress consists of brògs, hose (plain knitted), garters, feilebeg or little kilt, jacket, waistcoat, bonnet with sporran (animal or leather), and sgian du. [...] The sgian du is worn in the stocking, on the outer part of the right leg, in a hollow between two bones.

1908, Frank Adam, “The Highland Garb”, in The Clans, Septs & Regiments of the Scottish Highlands, Edinburgh, London: W. & A. K. Johnston, →OCLC, page 215:

It is to be noted that the Dagger does not become a regular feature of knightly accoutrement till the middle of the fourteenth century. [...] A very usual form, both in military and civilian circles, was the Ballok Knife (moderns term it a "kidney dagger"), a type that persisted till the sixteenth century, and whose modern analogue is the Highland dirk (skean-dhu).

1931, Francis M. Kelly, Randolph Schwabe, “‘Mixed’ Armour (Late)”, in A Short History of Costume & Armour, Mineola, N.Y.: Dover Publications, published 2002, →ISBN, part II (Armour), pages 67–68:

The smith can take a hunk of metal and hammer it out to the desired shape. He can see the result of every hammer stroke. He knows before the job is finished whether the skull cracker, the skean dhu or stingaree is going to serve its purpose in a private or public bickering, or merely is a piece of scrap to be hidden in the clinkers, cinders and junk pile back of the forge or under the bellows.

1941 September, Pat Dwyer, “The Adventures of Bill”, in Frank G. Steinebach, editor, The Foundry, volume 69, number 9, Cleveland, Oh.: The Penton Publishing Co., →OCLC, page 78, column 1:

In the stocking should be worn a sgian dubh, on the outer part of the right leg. The sgian dubh is a knife in a simple sheath.

1980, Geddes MacGregor, “Kilt, Clan, Tartan, and Bagpipe”, in Scotland: An Intimate Portrait, Boston, Mass.: Houghton Mifflin Company, published 1990, →ISBN, page 40:

For nearly half a century this gentle Scottish scholar [Alexander Carmichael] crisscrossed the meadows and moors, mountains and islands of northern Scotland, clad in full Highlands regalia, with kilt, sporran, and sgian dubh (dagger), a walking stick in his right hand and a notebook in his left, sleeping under the stars or in rude shepherds' huts, knocking at a cottage here and a manor house there, and courteously begging, when the door cracked open, for a chance to explain his quest. His mission was to seek out, collect, and preserve the vanishing Gaelic folklore—hymns and tales, incantations, and curses, and above all, prayers—of this remote Highlands region, where the corrosive culture of modernity had not yet won the day.

2005, Philip Zaleski, Carol Zaleski, “Prayer and Tradition”, in Prayer: A History, Boston, Mass.: Houghton Mifflin Company, →ISBN, page 233:

The gift store sells everything to help accessorize your kilt, from sporrans (leather pouches) and sgians dubh (daggers) to special socks and shoes.

2011, John Elliston, Kent Priestley, updated and revised by Constance E. Richards, “The Mountains”, in North Carolina Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff, 4th edition, Guilford, Conn.: Morris Book Publishing, →ISBN, page 55:

If you do not care if your knife appears a bit weaponlike, go for a sgian dubh style blade, but be sure to pick out a good one as most eBay sgian dubhs are practically nonfunctional replicas.

2012 January 3, C. R. Jahn, “The Subtle Blade”, in FTW Self Defense, Bloomington, Ind.: iUniverse, →ISBN, page 133:

[H]e had a complete Black Watch uniform, which consisted of [...] a kilt of blue and green tartan, a black waistcoat, an embossed leather sporran which he wore around his waist, knee-high stockings, and the sgian dubh, or ceremonial knife tucked into the right kilt stocking, with only the pommel visible.

2012 March, William W[allace] Johnstone, with J. A. Johnstone, chapter 14, in The Killing (MacCallister: The Eagles Legacy), New York, N.Y.: Pinnacle Books, Kensington Publishing Corp., →ISBN, page 166:

The sgian dubhs tucked into the top of the men's socks caught my fancy. Could those tiny knives cut someone or were they only decorative? Had anyone ever pulled out a sgian dubh at a Burns Night celebration and used it on a guest?

2015, Charlena Miller, chapter 16, in What Lies Between, Portland, Or.: Red Bicycle Press, →ISBN:

The others in the patrol grunted, turning back to cooking their food, sharpening their sgianan dubha, or scratching their wee balls.

2016, Angela Quarles, chapter 3, in Must Love Kilts: A Time Travel Romance (Must Love Series; book 3), [U.S.A.]: Unsealed Room Press, →ISBN:

(Scotland) A small, single-edged knife worn tucked into the hose (stocking) as part of traditional Scottish Highland dress along with the kilt.

скин ду

small, single-edged knife worn as part of traditional Scottish Highland dress


jocteleg

joctelegs (plural)
jockteleg (alternative)

1836, Joanna Baillie, Witchcraft, Act 1, p.41.
'O you ugly witch! show your elrich face from behint the hangings there, an' I'll score you aboon the breath wi' a jocteleg.'

(UK dialectal, chiefly Scotland) Pocketknife.


clamjamfrey

clamjamfreys (plural)
clamjamfry (alternative)

(Scotland) A disordered crowd of people; a mob.


thaw wind

"“These are the earliest flowers at the Heights,” she exclaimed. “They remind me of soft thaw winds, and warm sunshine, and nearly melted snow. Edgar, is there not a south wind, and is not the snow almost gone?”"

1847, Emily Brontë, chapter XIII, in Wuthering Heights:

(Scotland, Yorkshire, Cheshire) A cold, piercing wind from the south or south-east, which often accompanies the breaking up of a long frost.


dootless

Aye, he's back. Dootless you've heard that he was wounded in the war.

1925 July – 1926 May, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “(please specify the chapter number)”, in The Land of Mist (eBook no. 0601351h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia, published April 2019:


dargsman

(in Scotland and northern English dialects) A day laborer.


glamp

en-verb

glamp (third-person singular simple present glamps, present participle glamping, simple past and past participle glamped)

glamps (present singular third-person)
glamping (participle present)
glamped (participle past)
glamped (past)

First appears c. 1768 in the works of Alexander Ross.

(Scotland, dated, intransitive) To grope, to make snatches at.


weeness

(Scotland, Ireland, Northern England, New Zealand) smallness


Abbreviation of second independence referendum.

(Scotland, informal) A proposed second referendum on Scottish independence

Proposed second Scottish independence referendum


blart

blart (third-person singular simple present blarts, present participle blarting, simple past and past participle blarted)

blarts (present singular third-person)
blarting (participle present)
blarted (participle past)
blarted (past)

Origin obscure. Possibly from Middle English *blerten, from Old English *blǣrettan, a variant of Old English *blǣran (compare Middle English bleren, blaren, bloren (“to cry, bellow, wail”) > English blare, blore). Compare also Middle English blurden, English blurt.

unk

obscure

(Northern England, Midlands, Scotland) To sound loudly or harshly; to cry out, wail, lament.

(Northern England, Midlands, Scotland, of sheep or cattle) To bleat, bellow, low.


blart

obscure

(Northern England, Midlands, Scotland) A loud noise or cry.


hungrisome

en-adj

hungrisome (comparative more hungrisome, superlative most hungrisome)

more hungrisome (comparative)
most hungrisome (superlative)
hungrysome (alternative Scotland)
hungrisum (alternative Scotland)

For thirty would not suit this hungrisome Quintin of ours.

1898, Samuel Rutherford Crockett, The Standard Bearer, page 102:

"She'm hungrisome, Captain, ” said Abner.

1925, Henry Williamson, Sun Brothers, page 77:

(UK dialectal, Scotland) Having a keen appetite, hungry.


papingo

papingos (plural)
papingoes (plural)
papingoe (alternative)
popingo (alternative)

Borrowed from Scots papingo, ultimately from Old French papegai. Cognate to popinjay, German Papagei, Dutch papegaai.

(Scotland) popinjay (bird-shaped target in archery)


quisquous

quisquous (comparative more quisquous, superlative most quisquous)

more quisquous (comparative)
most quisquous (superlative)
quiscos (alternative)
quiscus (alternative)
quisqouse (alternative)
quisquose (alternative)

Shared with quisquis and quiscoskos; from Latin quisquis (“whosoever”) or by reduplication of Latin quis (“of what kind”).

Besides, the truths delivered by ministers in the fields upon quisquous subjects, with no small caution by some, and pretty safely, were heard and taken up by the hearers, according to their humours and opinions, many times far different from, and altogether without the cautions given by the preacher, which either could not, or were not understood by them.

1830, rev. Robert Wodrow, rev. Robert Burns, The History of the Sufferings of the Church of Scotland, from the Restoration to the Revolution, Tom 2:

(Scotland, rare) Hard to deal with; dubious; of people: having a character difficult to assess.


quiscoskos

quiscoskos (comparative more quiscoskos, superlative most quiscoskos)

more quiscoskos (comparative)
most quiscoskos (superlative)

Shared with quisquous and quisquis; from Latin quisquis (“whosoever”) or by reduplication of Latin quis (“of what kind”).

Mr Ettles having gone away, I then sent the lad to ask the landlord; jalousing that his house, for an inns, being a sober sojourn, and the leddies maybe a wee quiscoskos in character, might be the reason of the prohibition.

1836, William Tait, “Tribulations of the Rev. Cowal Kilmunt”, in Tait's Edinburgh magazine. n.s. v.3 1836.:


outstander

About this time, the old constable of Dundee being aged and sickly, was carried by coach, unable to ride, to Edinburgh, because he was an outstander against the covenant.

1829, John Spalding, The History of the Troubles and Memorable Transactions in Scotland, in the Reign of Charles I, page 180:

(Scotland, obsolete) One who persistently opposes something.


eidently

en-adv

eidently (comparative more eidently, superlative most eidently)

more eidently (comparative)
most eidently (superlative)

(Scotland, Ireland) Busily, industriously, diligently.


kirkland

(Scotland, especially in plural) Land owned by the church.


likeways

And herein also her forebeam to which her bowsprit was fastened, cracked clean insunder; and some of her timbers likeways in the hold we found defective.

1634 July 13, Thomas Young, Letter of Captain Thomas Young to Sir Toby Matthew:


bonnyish

(dialectal, Scotland, Northern England) Somewhat bonnie.


Ailie

Though no minister would visit the Skerburnfoot, or, if he went, departed quicker than he came, the girl Ailie attended regular at the catechising at the mains of Sker.

1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:

(Scotland) A diminutive of the female given name Alison.


peeseweep

He heard not the sound of the sea nor the peeseweeps startled by his horse, for the sound that ran in his ears was the roaring Sker water and a girl's cry.

(Scotland) Alternative form of peasweep.


crile

"And am I to meet my Mary at Moffat? Come away, little, dear, welcome body, thou blessed of heaven, come away, and taste of an auld shepherd's best cheer, and I'll gang foot for foot with you to Moffat, and my auld wife shall gang foot for foot with us too. I tell you, little, blessed, and welcome crile, come along with me."

(Scotland) A small person or creature; a dwarf or runt.


gnip

en-verb

gnip (third-person singular simple present gnips, present participle gnipping, simple past and past participle gnipped)

gnips (present singular third-person)
gnipping (participle present)
gnipped (participle past)
gnipped (past)
gnyp (alternative obsolete)

Origin obscure. Perhaps an alteration of knip (“to bite, crop, nip”).

unk

obscure

(obsolete, Scotland) To nip, bite; to champ at the bit


whereanent

(obsolete, Scotland) Concerning which; relating to which.

1. Scottish2. from Middle English mid3. old dialectal form


flamb

en-verb

flamb (third-person singular simple present flambs, present participle flambing, simple past and past participle flambed)

flambs (present singular third-person)
flambing (participle present)
flambed (participle past)
flambed (past)

(Scotland, obsolete) To baste roasted meat.


breekless

(Scotland) Not wearing breeks; breechless.


ogtiern

(Scotland, historical) The person who is fourth in the line of descent from a thane.


actorney

(Scotland) Obsolete spelling of attorney.


feu duty

en-noun

feu duty (usually uncountable, plural feu duties)

feu duties (plural)
feuduty (alternative)
feu-duty (alternative)

(Scotland, property law, historical) Money payable by the tenant of a feu to the feudal superior.


necessars

(in later use Scotland, now rare) Necessaries.


necessar

en-adj

necessar (comparative more necessar, superlative most necessar)

more necessar (comparative)
most necessar (superlative)

(in later use Scotland, now rare) Necessary.


convel

en-verb

convel (third-person singular simple present convels, present participle convelling, simple past and past participle convelled)

convels (present singular third-person)
convelling (participle present)
convelled (participle past)
convelled (past)

From Latin convellō. Doublet of convulse.

Let vs come to his last exception against Doctor Humphrey, which is that hee handleth the matter artificially, to make a credulous reader beleeue that Saint Augustine himselfe doth conuell the vse of prayer for the dead by those sentences of the Apostle.

1628, Richard Field, Of the Church fiue bookes, Appendix, part 1, book 2, section 8, page 793:

The Pursuer answered, that he did not intend to Convel principally the intrinsick points of the Testimonies, but mainly to prove their partiality and corruption, and therewith also to prove their Testimonies were false, and impossible.

1683, James Dalrymple, Viscount of Stair, “The Laird of Milntoun contra the Lady of Milntoun, Eodem die [February 26, 1668]”, in The decisions of the Lords of Council & [Scotland Court of] Session in the most important cases […] from June 1661 to July 1681, page 537:

Modesty will not allow me to repeat them [sc. obscene passages], since they defile the Air, and needs must pollute the Eyes of Readers, and Ears of Hearers, and therefore to convel and [?] them, I shall only say this[…]

1694, William Strachan, Some remarks upon a late pamphlet, entituled, An answer to the Scots Presbyterian eloquence […] , page 78:

(obsolete, chiefly Scotland) To completely rebut, to utterly reject.


sarkless

(Scotland and Northern England) Without a shirt or smock.


couthiness

(Scotland) The quality of being couthie.


kirklike

en-adj

kirklike (comparative more kirklike, superlative most kirklike)

more kirklike (comparative)
most kirklike (superlative)

To sketch a thought, as Haydon called it, on a Sunday, taking out his pencil for the purpose, was to subject himself to a kirklike rebuke from his friend.

1866, Cyrus Redding, Daniel O'Connell, page 261:


blateness

(Scotland, Northern England) The quality of being blate.


gowpenful

(chiefly Scotland) Enough to fill a gowpen; a double handful.


nyaff

(Scotland) A small or contemptible person


nyaff

en-verb

nyaff (third-person singular simple present nyaffs, present participle nyaffing, simple past and past participle nyaffed)

nyaffs (present singular third-person)
nyaffing (participle present)
nyaffed (participle past)
nyaffed (past)


youff

This was blithe news; for really we were wearied with going about, and hearing yon Sicilians chatter in a tongue that was as unmeaning as a dog's youff.

1833, John Galt, Stories of the Study, volume 3, page 69:


youff

youff (third-person singular simple present youffs, present participle youffing, simple past and past participle youffed)

youffs (present singular third-person)
youffing (participle present)
youffed (participle past)
youffed (past)


unquestionate

[…] Where as I found, full ready at the gate, / The master porter, called Patience, / That freely let us in, unquestionate; / And there we saw the perfect excellence, […]

1824, George Chalmers, The Poetic Remains of Some of the Scotish Kings, page 76:

If we are not to expect any other immediate result from the message than that best result of all, human speech, that it awaken thought, we can at least already thank it for one signal and unquestionate benefit.


uncoly

en-adv

uncoly (comparative more uncoly, superlative most uncoly)

more uncoly (comparative)
most uncoly (superlative)


cat's melody

The wife within is sending the curses thick and heavy on me, and the childre's playing the cat's melody to keep her in comfort.

1860 William Carleton "The Three Wishes; An Irish legend" Irish Life and Character; or, Tales and stories of the Irish peasantry p. 333 (London: Henry Lea)

You vegetable cat's melody!
Your Concert Miaulant is
A triumph o' discord shairly

1926, Hugh MacDiarmid, A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle:

'This is completely absurd,' I heard him say, his voice barely audible above the screaming that had now started. 'Believe me, I never —'
Then all we could see was writhing.
And sounds I don't care to try to represent or transcribe: what used to be called the cat's melody.

2016, Adrian Barnes, “Day 4; Accidental Colours”, in Nod, London: Titan, →ISBN:


droppie

There's nae harm in taking a droppie
It ends all your trouble and strife
It gives you a feeling that when you get home
You don't give a hang for your wife

1920, Will Fyffe, “I Belong to Glasgow”:

Rob reappeared with the empty jug, and announced that he had a droppie of French brandy, if the laird felt in need.

2012, Nigel Tranter, Warden of the Queen's March:

(colloquial, chiefly Scotland) A small drink, especially of alcohol.


unbidable

en-adj

unbidable (comparative more unbidable, superlative most unbidable)

more unbidable (comparative)
most unbidable (superlative)

(Scotland) Not to be borne; intolerable; unbearable.


unbigged

(archaic, UK dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) Of land: on which nothing has been built.


bumbee

I went to a gentleman's piper recently, to get the piob-reachd of Cill-a-Chriosd for this work, and received a specimen, which is a much better imitation of the inexpressive notes, eternally repeated, that would be made by three unfortunate bumbees or blue-bottles imprisoned in a tin snuffbox […]

1862, Donald Campbell, A Treatise on the Language, Poetry, and Music of the Highland Clans:

(Scotland) Alternative form of bumblebee.


whatlike

There was nothing but eggs, butter, and cheese in the house, and the lady demurred: whatlike fare was that to set before a prince?

1895, George Eyre-Todd, Scotland Picturesque and Traditional, page 270:


rentaller

rentallers (plural)
rentaler (alternative)

(Scotland, historical) A person, especially a kindly tenant, having land tenure by rental right.


SSPCA

w:Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

(Scotland) Initialism of Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.


guesten

en-verb

guesten (third-person singular simple present guestens, present participle guestening, simple past and past participle guestened)

guestens (present singular third-person)
guestening (participle present)
guestened (participle past)
guestened (past)

Here have I come this length, trusting the godly Earl of Murray would be on his march to the Borders, for he was to have guestened with the Baron of Avenel; and instead of that comes news that he has gone westlandways about some tuilzie in Ayrshire.

1830, Walter Scott, Waverley Novels: The Monastery, volume 19, page 285:

This stone has the But as there is no longer a chamber to “guesten" peculiar interest of having furnished the key by within, the adventure is nought, and the prophecy which the succession of stations became identified fulfilled.

But Toppet Hob o' the Main had guestened in my house by chance.

1882, Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, volume 131, page 490:

If hospitality be reckoned among the fine arts and moral virtues, to "guesten" aright is a saving social grace.

1924, Virginia Terhune Van de Water, Present Day Etiquette: Including Social Forms, page 151:

Hence came it that the ports of Rome were opened (At our behests) to give you guestening.

2013, Barnabe Barnes, The Devil's Charter, page 36:

(dialectal, transitive, Scotland, Northern England) To entertain as a guest; to lodge as a guest.


grushie

St Agatha's Church was around the corner, and if we heard that there was a wedding on, we made sure we were there for the grushie.

2022, Kellie Harrington, Roddy Doyle, Kellie:

(Scotland, historical) A Scottish wedding tradition where coins were thrown to the guests.


spaer

There's o'er many Spaers of puir folks' fortunes in this land, as well as in your own, and first or last, they hae caused a muckle deal o'harm.

1860, John Wood Warter, The Sea-board and the Down, page 53:

(Scotland) One who spaes or foretells; a diviner.


cruisie

cruisies (plural)
crusie (alternative)
crusy (alternative)

Apparently an alteration of French creuset.

Besides the articles of plate which I have already noticed, the old man now lighted and placed on the table a silver lamp, or cruisie, as the Scottish term it […].

The cruisie lamps gave a dim, yellowish light but he could make out a prominent, slightly hooked nose and large dark eyes set into an oval face.

1991, Lawrence Norfolk, Lemprière's Dictionary, Grove Press, published 1999, page 277:

(chiefly Scotland, now historical) An oil-burning lamp.


meltith

(UK, Scotland, dialect, obsolete) A meal.


orp

orp (third-person singular simple present orps, present participle orping, simple past and past participle orped)

orps (present singular third-person)
orping (participle present)
orped (participle past)
orped (past)

My heart is ever orpin' on / The bonnie banks o' Tay.

1895, Robert Ford, Tayside Songs and Other Verses, Alexander Gardner, page 12:

(Scotland) To complain, grumble, or be discontented.

Of changling Imp—he spoke, no care could rear, / Which backward seemed to orp, from year to year.

1820 November, Thomas Gillespie, “Sketches of Village Character”, in Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, volume 8, page 200:

(Scotland) To be in ill health; to be sickly and shrivelled.


up a close

(Scotland, informal, archaic) Synonym of up a tree (“in a difficult situation”).


scoog

scoog (third-person singular simple present scoogs, present participle scooging, simple past and past participle scooged)

scoogs (present singular third-person)
scooging (participle present)
scooged (participle past)
scooged (past)

(Scotland) Alternative form of scug (“shelter; protect; hide; take shelter”).


molass

From peuking with porter no thirst can ensue, Not so, my dear knights, fares the ignorant ass Who drinks all the evening at burning molass.

1773, Robert Ferguson, The Poetical Works of Robert Ferguson, page 212:

The only guid molass has dune, Some drouthie wives it's sent hame soon; Which gars their dearies canty croon, The praise o' sugar whisky, O!

1813, George Bruce, Poems, Ballads and Songs on Various Occasions, page 24:

Gust then the bell rang an Betty brought papa a bill from the grosry for half a barel of molass witch Master George Hackett had turned the spigot, also a sute of cloes, a pound of dates, a ounce of cheeze.

1883, Metta Victoria Victor, A bad boy's diary, page 18:

Whiskey extracted from malt does not answer the purpose of making up compounds, cordials, and imitating foreign liquors so well as that extracted from sugar, molasses, raisins and cyder, as it has a particular flavour of its own, which nothing will overcome but a superabundance of the tincture of seeds, herbs, roots, spices, &c., that may be infused into it, which superabundance would make the flavour of the ingredients too strong, and, of course, disagreeable and harsh; wheras, if sugar, molass, raisin or cyder spirit, termed silent whiskey or whiskey without any particular of its own, were used, the flavour of the ingredients could be regulated according to taste without any difficulty.

1908, Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons, “Royal Commission on Whiskey and Other Potable Spirits”, in Parliamentary Papers: 1850-1908, volume 58, page 240:

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the Scots had a drink which they called molass, a fierce rumlike spirit distilled from molasses.

1994, John Ayto, A Gourmet's Guide: Food and Drink from A to Z, page 222:

(Scotland) Cheap whiskey made from molasses.


coorie

coorie (third-person singular simple present coories, present participle coorying or coorieing, simple past and past participle cooried)

coories (present singular third-person)
coorying (participle present)
coorieing (participle present)
cooried (participle past)
cooried (past)

From Scots coor (“cower”) + -ie (frequentative).

... or, for that matter, the newly ennobled representatives, many of whom have reached that tenure by coorieing up to the establishment throughout their career. I want to offer the House a flavour of the debate that took place.

1997, Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard).: House of Commons official report:

So we slept, coorieing down into the blankets under the tarpaulin. It was broad daylight when I awoke, and we had pulled in off the road, and were in the midst of woods. Father was giving the pony some hay, but I could see no sign of[…]

2013 June 24, Betsy Whyte, The Yellow on the Broom: The Early Days of a Traveller Woman, Birlinn, →ISBN:

No coorieing up together on cold nights, no playful chases at the end of the working day and certainly no sharing of food. They came to an understanding where they simply pretended the other didn't exist and this seemed to work well,[…]

2018 April 30, Lindsey Gibb, C.A. Hope, Perthshire Folk Tales, The History Press, →ISBN:

... were coorieing over the fire telling bawkin stories, and edging closer to the farm lads for comfort when the gale moaned and whined in the wide chimney—as we tramped through, old Betty took Dan by the sleeve.

2022 August 1, John Sillars, The McBrides: A Romance of Arran, DigiCat:


fashery

en-noun

fashery (countable and uncountable, plural fasheries)

(Scotland, Geordie, Northern England) Worry; bother; annoyance.


glegness

(Scotland) The quality of being gleg (smart; quick; brisk).


graddan

en-verb

graddan (third-person singular simple present graddans, present participle graddaning, simple past and past participle graddaned)

graddans (present singular third-person)
graddaning (participle present)
graddaned (participle past)
graddaned (past)

(Scotland, historical) To prepare corn for the quern by setting fire to the ears and beating off the grain at the point when the husk is fully burnt.


creeshy

en-adj

creeshy (comparative more creeshy, superlative most creeshy)

more creeshy (comparative)
most creeshy (superlative)


sarkful

(Scotland and Northern England) A shirtful or smockful.


unfeary

unfeary (comparative more unfeary, superlative most unfeary)

more unfeary (comparative)
most unfeary (superlative)

But Sawney grew weary, and fain would be civil, / Being auld, and unfeary, and fail'd of his strength

1812, John Bell, Rhymes of Northern Bards, page 185:

(Scotland, obsolete) infirm; feeble; weak


teindable

(Scotland) Subject to the payment of a teind or tithe.


geggie

'Aw, now you jest shut yer geggie. First off it's our room for now, because yer mam says so. And second off, I'm no grandda'. How old are you?' Reluctantly, Sam said, 'Nineteen.'

2012 December 31, Stephen Baxter, Doctor Who: The Wheel of Ice, Penguin, →ISBN:

“As soon as I book my reservations for the flight back, I'll give him a call.” “You do that, laddie.” “We're going to need him too.” “Too true, laddie. Now shut yer geggie and get off […]”

2017 March 21, Thomas J Wolfenden, Coconut Republic, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 121:

“What's he doing here?” Tam addressed Connor as if Rutledge couldn't hear the rude question. “They are searching for Aylesbury's younger sister,” Connor told him. “Shut yer geggie. Harry has a sister?” Tam paused mid-chew to ask[…]

2022 January 25, Angeline Fortin, Say Yes to the Highlander: Questions for a Highlander Books 1-7, My Personal Bubble LLC, →ISBN, page 1362:


tatterwallop

(Scotland, obsolete) Ragged clothing; rags.


thunderplump

The seeds did not germinate in many parts of a row until rains in end of June and thunderplumps in first week of July brought them up later in patches, so that no second sowing was necessary, but singling was done by stages.

1916, Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, page 241:

There was a real thunderplump. The rain was just coming down in sheets so's the water was dripping over my ears and you couldn't use the Walkman.

2015, Alan Warner, Morvern Callar, page 46:


thrawcrook

(Scotland) An instrument for twisting straw into ropes.


underkecks

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-underkecks.wav

(Northern English dialect, Scotland) Underpants.


buff nor stye

(Scotland, obsolete) Neither one thing nor another.


knave bairn

(Scotland, obsolete) A male child; a boy.


closemouth

Davie turned at the landing and saw the three figures at the closemouth.

Mrs McLeish was on duty at the closemouth when Cathy came down the stairs that Saturday, en route to meet Jean.

When she came back she found the outer door of the closemouth open, and when she ascended the stair she found, standing at the door of her house, her neighbour, Mr. Adams.

2022, William Roughead, The Trial of Oscar Slater:


sightloss

Mister Samuels if ye feel that you have sightloss then it is in yer own interest to register it in respect of the physical criteria required for full-function job registration.

1994, James Kelman, How Late It Was How Late:

NCBI works to provide the practical, emotional and social support so that people with sightloss can reach their full potential, says Chris White.

2019 August 30, Chris White, “Striving to give people with sight loss an even playing field”, in The Irish Examiner:

Maybe her sightloss had sharpened her other senses, but they heard now what the woman had caught– the faint rumble of a truck or van, the modulated whine of someone dropping down the gears to meet the slope.

2022, Liam McIlvanney, The Heretic, page 446:

(Scotland, Ireland) Loss of sight; partial or total blindness.


pagger

en-verb

pagger (third-person singular simple present paggers, present participle paggering, simple past and past participle paggered)

paggers (present singular third-person)
paggering (participle present)
paggered (participle past)
paggered (past)

The reality is that the drink has nothing to do with whether people want a pagger, it's the mentality of a small number of fans before they even have a tipple in the first place.

2015, Jamie Montgomery, “Why do the minority in Scotland dictate how the majority live?”, in Daily Record:


mortalled

en-adj

mortalled (comparative more mortalled, superlative most mortalled)

more mortalled (comparative)
most mortalled (superlative)

And, out of practice, she got mortalled, traipsing home late and messy.

But it was hard work – perhaps if I was loved-up I could've slid up to him and said something nice, but in the end I got mortalled and disgusting. Me and Jenni went halves on six litres of White Lightning, […]


mad with it

mad with it (comparative more mad with it, superlative most mad with it)

more mad with it (comparative)
most mad with it (superlative)
mad wae it (alternative)
mad wi' it (alternative)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-mad with it.wav

'I like being with my pals and getting mad with it,' he shrugs. 'I grew up to hate the police.'

2011 September 24, Gavin Knight, “The woman taking the fight to Glasgow's gangs”, in The Daily Telegraph, archived from the original on 2021-10-18:

In the most exaggerated Californian accent I could manage, I started to whisper esoteric Glasgow slang expressions, to create an image of Mo having fully immersed himself into his new city's culture. 'You guys getting mad wae it on Friday, or whit?'

2014, Kevin Bridges, We Need to Talk About ... Kevin Bridges, London: Michael Joseph Ltd, →ISBN, page 262:

He wouldn't tell anyone about what he heard over the arctic winds. They would think him crazy. If anyone told him the same thing he'd think they were crazy or at the very least, "mad wi' it" drunk!

2016, Joanne Sundell, Arctic Will, Waterville, M.E.: Five Star Publishing, →ISBN, page 48:

Hugh says he was "chucked" out of school aged 14 and then spent all of his time out with his "pals". "I was always getting mad with it," he says.

2017 August 4, Lucy Adams, “Police officer 'embedded' in prison”, in BBC News, archived from the original on 2022-04-12:

In the now viral Twitter post, Caitlin [Harvey] penned: 'A year ago I was mad with it on a night out and got chatting to the toilet attendant who told me she had recently moved here from Nigeria and had no friends.'

2019 July 30, Harriet Johnston, “Woman who struck up a friendship with a 'lonely' Nigerian toilet attendant on a drunken night out reveals they now go on walks together - and she's even met her new friend's son”, in Daily Mail, archived from the original on 2023-06-05:

(UK, chiefly Scotland, slang) Extremely drunk or intoxicated.


mad wae it

(Scotland) Alternative form of mad with it.


unconess

(Scotland) The state or condition of being unco; strangeness, eccentricity.


moddies

(Scotland, slang, school slang) The Scottish school subject of Modern Studies.


clyack

From Scots clyack, which is in turn from Scottish Gaelic caileag.

get clyack

The “clyack” sheaf was cut by the maidens on the harvest field. On no account was it allowed to touch the ground.

1881, Walter Gregor, Notes on the Folk-lore of the North-east of Scotland, page 181:

Mr. Duff, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, tells me that in his part of Aberdeenshire there is a competition as to who shall have the last sheaf (the clyack sheaf) like that at Balquhidder, but with this difference, that the last corn left standing and hidden is cut by the reaper himself, not, as at Balquhidder, by the girl who followed binding.

1888, J.G. Frazer, “Folk-lore at Balquhidder”, in The Folk-lore Journal, page 270:

There are still a good many stooks about the hill sides, and Ardiecow managed to get clyack tonight.

2008 [c. 1892], James Wilson, edited by Peter Hills, Journal of My Life and Everyday Doings 1879-81, 1885-92, Volume 18 of Scottish History Society (series), page 188:

(Scotland, dated) Completion of the harvest season, harvesting the last sheaf of grain.


loony dooker

Of course, those soft southern swims aren't for everyone. So how about taking the plunge in the Firth of Forth as a "loony dooker" for fundraising fun in a more northern setting?

2013 December 4, Kate Townshend, “Cold turkey: top 10 Christmas swims in the UK”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2023-05-10:

Firth of Forth
Firth of Forth#Proper noun

(Scotland) Someone who participates in the annual Loony Dook event, in which people dive into the freezing waters of the Firth of Forth on New Year's Day.


waterfoot

It was at the waterfoot of the Ken, and the time of the year was June.

1895, S. R. Crockett, A Cry Across the Black Water:

(Scotland) An estuary at the mouth of a river.


grey folk

One of the most important of all Yuletide observances was the 'saining' required to guard life or properties from the Trows. If the proper observances were omitted, the 'grey-folk' were sure to take advantage of the opportunity.

1888, Biot Edmonndston, Jessie Saxby, The Home of a Naturalist, page 136:

(Scotland, mythology) elves, the fae, the wee folk.


theek

en-verb

theek (third-person singular simple present theeks, present participle theeking, simple past and past participle theeked)

theeks (present singular third-person)
theeking (participle present)
theeked (participle past)
theeked (past)


clearsome

en-adj

clearsome (comparative more clearsome, superlative most clearsome)

more clearsome (comparative)
most clearsome (superlative)

(Scotland, Northern Ireland) Characterised or marked by clarity or clearness; clear, bright.


mingebag

(UK, derogatory, slang, chiefly Scotland, Northern England) A jerk; a mean or obnoxious person; a miser.


Free Kirk

(religion, Scotland) The Free Church of Scotland, an evangelical presbyterian church formed in 1843 when its founders withdrew from the Church of Scotland.


Transitus

From Latin trānsitus (“passage, crossing”).

(Scotland, education) A school year serving as a bridge between primary and secondary education.


spreckle

spreckles (plural)
sprackle (alternative)

From Middle English sprekle, from Old English sprecel, spreccil, from Proto-West Germanic *sprekl, from Proto-Germanic *sprekla-, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)per- (“to strew, spread, sprinkle, scatter”).

der

(now chiefly dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) A speck, spot, speckle; freckle.


spreckle

en-verb

spreckle (third-person singular simple present spreckles, present participle spreckling, simple past and past participle spreckled)

spreckles (present singular third-person)
spreckling (participle present)
spreckled (participle past)
spreckled (past)
sprackle (alternative)

From Middle English *spreklen (suggested by past participle sprekled), from the noun above.

(ambitransitive, now chiefly dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) To speckle; to become spotted or speckled.


will-fire

A few stones were piled together in the barnyard, and woodcoals having been laid thereon, the fuel was ignited by will-fire.


gueedman

In some parts of Aberdeenshire the last bunch of standing corn […] is not suffered to touch the ground; the master or "gueedman" sits down and receives each handful of corn as it is cut on his lap.

1911, James George Frazer, The Golden Bough, volume 10, page 12:


gateward

(Scotland, obsolete) Straight, or directly; in the way towards.


daft laddie question

en-noun

daft laddie question (plural daft laddie questions)

I'm not immersed in Junior football history, and though I've grown to love it over the years I feel I'm missing a lot of stuff that everyone just seems to know. So I thought the off season was a good time to ask my daft laddie questions. -- Forum post 17/06/2017

(Scotland, Northern England) A question posed to a group by a person feigning stupidity with the aim of making sure all aspects of a subject have been considered.


kirktown

(Scotland) A small town or village in the vicinity of a parish church.


averin

Rubus chamaemorus
Rubus chamaemorus#Translingual

(Scotland) cloudberry, Rubus chamaemorus.

(Scotland) cloudberry, fruit of Rubus chamaemorus.


backspang

(obsolete, Scotland, rare) A piece of deceit or trickery enabling one to escape a commitment.


Orkney skiff

(nautical, Scotland) A fishing skiff used off the Orkney Islands of Scotland.


cheese and bread

(Scotland, dated) Food that is simple or plain; a type of food that is necessary for subsistence.


dimsome

en-adj

dimsome (comparative more dimsome, superlative most dimsome)

more dimsome (comparative)
most dimsome (superlative)

(Scotland) Characterised or marked by dimness; somewhat dim.


strind

strinds (plural)
strine (alternative)
stryne (alternative)

From Middle English strind, strend, strund, from Old English *strynd, related to Old Norse strind (“edge, side, land”).

(Scotland) A small stream, streamlet; a trickle of water, the run of spilt liquid.


strind

en-verb

strind (third-person singular simple present strinds, present participle strinding, simple past and past participle strinded)

strinds (present singular third-person)
strinding (participle present)
strinded (participle past)
strinded (past)
strine (alternative)
stryne (alternative)

(Scotland) To run or flow in a very small stream; to trickle.

(Scotland) To eject in a small stream; to squirt, spray; to allow to trickle or dribble in small quantities.


strind

From Middle English strind, from Old English strȳnd, strīend. Related to strain.

(Northern England, Scotland) Lineage, descent.

(Northern England, Scotland) The tread (chalaza) of an egg.


by a time

(Scotland, obsolete) Sometimes, occasionally.


time about

(Scotland) In turn; by turns; alternately.


plainie

(Scotland, colloquial) A plain throw in children's games, without any action performed at the same time such as clapping.


know fine well

know fine well (third-person singular simple present knows fine well, present participle knowing fine well, simple past knew fine well, past participle known fine well)

knows fine well (present singular third-person)
knowing fine well (participle present)
knew fine well (past)
known fine well (participle past)

(Scotland, Ireland, informal) To know something perfectly well, to be very aware of something.


Embra

"[…] floods in Embra. Not that I feel sorry for that lot."
They all smiled. Embra was the Glasgow term for Edinburgh, the capital city. There had always been a rivalry between the towns.

Fairly attracts the visitors. Must be guid for business in Embra, ah would think.

Pronunciation spelling
pronunciation spelling

(Scotland, dialectal) Pronunciation spelling of Edinburgh.


there's a good time coming

(Scotland, dated) Used to indicate or signify a point in time in the future of good fortune, especially one that has been anticipated or foretold.


lowrie

Cum furth, lowrie, lurkand vnder thy hude.

1571, The Morall fabillis of Esope compylit be Maister Robert Henrisoun:

The monarch pleas'd with Lowry, wha durſt gloom? A warrant's order'd for a good round ſum,

Has greedy lowrie been amang thy ſheep / Or does ſome thrawart laſs diſturb thy ſleep?

1789, Sillar, David, Poems, by David Sillar. 1789:


cheb

Possibly a blend of chest + bollock (“testicle”).

(Scotland, Northern England, slang, chiefly in the plural) A boob; a tit; a breast.


sids

(Scotland) Oat husks, or bran with some kernel, used to make sowens.


upput

upput (third-person singular simple present upputs, present participle upputting, simple past and past participle upput)

upputs (present singular third-person)
upputting (participle present)
upput (participle past)
upput (past)

[…] a supply out of the said vacant stipend for upputting the bridge of Alness.

1896, Publications of the Scottish History Society, volume 24, page 161:

By 29th October, 1655, the Council ordain John Layng "to upput the bridge and the burn betwixt the bridges" within ten days thereafter.

1934, Andrew Beaumont Robertson, Annals of the Royal Burgh of Forres, page 54:

(Scotland, obsolete, transitive) To put up; to erect; to raise.


kyrkmaster

kyrkmasters (plural)
kirkmaster (alternative)

From Middle English kirkmaster, kyrkmaster, equivalent to kyrk + master. Piecewise doublet of churchmaster.

Item to the makyng of the stepell of Tykhill cˢ., a cart with iiij hors. Item to the kyrkmasters a nobill. Item to Kateryn, the doghter of Robert his son, a caldron, a pot, and a littell posnet. […] [6 Sep. 1429.]

1835, “CCCIV. Testamentum Johannis Sandford de Tikhill. [M. f. 563-b]”, in Testamenta Eboracensia; or, Wills Registered at York, […], London: J. B. Nichols and Son, page 417:

Another entry shows that Henry Barry one of the witnesses to the grant, was at one time Kirkmaster:—"The Preuost and Counsall has grantit til Henry Barry and till Marione of Bum, his wyf, thar laris within the Kirk or queyr of Dunde, quhar thai pies til haff thame becaus the said Henry gef to the Kyrk werk his fee that pertenit til hym the tyme that he wes kyrkmaster, and a rest of silver that tha aucht till hym."

1886 February 8, John Shiell, “Notice of Carved Oak Panels Which Were Formerly in the Chapel of the Fransiscan Nunnery in Dundee”, in Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, volume XX, Edinburgh, page 122:

"Upon a pew in Thornton Church is the following inscription cut in black letter upon oak:
" In the yer yat all the stalles
in thys chyrch wā mayd
Thomas Kijrkbe ihо̄n skre
bye hew resten ihon smyth
Kyrkmasters in the yer of owre Lorde God mccccc xxxii."

1898, Sir Stephen Glynne, 9th Baronet, “Church Notes”, in The Antiquary: A Magazine Devoted to the Study of the Past, volume XXXIV, page 279:

[1507. 12 Nov.] […] "Provided allway that when soever the said Jamys Karr shall change his naturall lyfe, that then it shalbe lawfuU, as ofte tymes as it shalbe nedfuU, to the vicar of ye churche afforsaid for the tyme beyng and kyrkmasters of the same, heires executors and assignes to the said Jamys jontle, to electe one person beyng within holye orders, to be scole master of the gramer scole afforsaid, whiche so electe, and abled by the Prior of Duresme, shall have occupye and rejoce the said halfif acre of land and the hows therapon beildyd with the appurtenaunce, in lyk wyse as the said Jamys occupyed and usyd in hys tyme. […]”

1903, “Giggleswick Grammar School”, in Arthur Francis Leach, editor, Early Yorkshire Schools, volume II, […] J. Whitehead and Son for the Yorkshire Archaeological Society, page 233:

At St. Andrews there was a special ' Master of the Kyrk werk ' or ' Kyrkmaster' responsible for the fabric of the parish church as early at least as 1503 ; in 1598 the office was still filled by a ' Kirkmaister.'

1907 October 10, David Patrick, “General Statutes of 1549”, in Statutes of the Scottish Church 1225-1559 […], Edinburgh: […] T. and A. Constable for the Scottish History Society, page 119:

The kyrkmasters of the Trinete kyrk for a Garthen behynd the mason loge yerly

1983, “Rental of the Town's Land, 1465”, in Rosemary Horrox, editor, Selected Rentals and Accounts Medieval Hull 1293-1528, England: […] The University of Leeds Printing Service for the Yorkshire Archæological Society, page 116:

(obsolete, Christianity, Northern England, Scotland) A churchwarden.


lilly-low

lilly-lows (plural)
lilly low (alternative)
lillylow (alternative)

Likely from Scots lilly (“lovely”) + low (“flame”). The first term might also directly come from liefly.

Should any pretend to quibble at the little eſcapes of ſuch men, the bulk of the world would know no more of it than of the Anatomiſts interſcapularia, and the reſt would conſider it as a north-country Lilly-Low, that is, a mere ſtraw-fire.

1782, Robert Robinson, “The Preface”, in Arcana: in VIII. Letters to a Friend, London: […] W. Lepard and J. Buckland, page xv:

Then she arranged the logs in a more scientific manner, blew one long, well-directed breath, causing what Yorkshire folk call "a lilly-low," then nodded her head significantly, with another broad smile.

1868, J. Reynard, “The Victoria Mission: From the Journal of the Rev. J. Reynard, 1866-67”, in Ninth Annual Report of the Columbia Mission for the Year 1867, London: Rivingtons, page 21:

For lily-lows is nought to it for burning.

1890 January 10, Walter Adams Wallace, Only a Sister?: A Tale of To-day^(Quote https://www.google.com.sv/books/edition/The_English_Catalogue_of_Books/ZZBIAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22W.+A.+Wallace%22+%22only+a+sister%22&pg=PA1031&printsec=frontcover https://www.google.com.sv/books/edition/The_Speaker/545NAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22only+a+sister%22&pg=PA324&printsec=frontcover), London: Roper & Drowley, page 360:

Lilly-low, lilly-low, set up on end,
See little baby go out at town end.

1906, Lina Eckenstein, “Riddle-rhymes” (chapter X), in Comparative Studies in Nursery Rhymes, London: Duckworth & Co., page 113:

Winter, disputing every inch of ground, at last retreated beaten. The sun burst through the sullen clouds, and flung his lusty beams about the house. The dust-motes caught their radiance, and danced in shimmering lilly-lows, which played about the kitchen.

1912, Louis Pergaud, “Margot”, in Douglas English, transl., Tales of the Untamed: Dramas of the Animal World, New York: Outing Publishing Company, pages 192-193:

Occasionally at evenglome one of the Gillie Girls would come and sit on a Rock offshore and sing to me by the light of the lilly-lows, accompanying herself on her long golden hair, which should not have sorted very well with her scaly green skin but somehow did.

1975 January 10, Evelyn E. Smith, Unpopular Planet, Dell Publishing, page 331:

(obsolete, UK, Scotland, dialect) A flame, especially a bright, small or lovely one.


bleezy

en-adj

bleezy (comparative more bleezy, superlative most bleezy)

more bleezy (comparative)
most bleezy (superlative)

Having often made the same remark, I mentioned that twice or thrice, in passing their house, I had seen her looking foolishly through the window, pressing her tongue on the glass, with a red face and bleezy eyes; indeed, it was pretty generally thought in the town, that she took more than did her good.

1830, John Galt, Lawrie Todd; Or, The Settlers in the Woods, volume II, London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, page 301:

They had both glistening eyes and bleezy faces. I had my doubts—gude forgie me if I blaspheme her good name!—that the strange woman was the waur of liquor; for, when she sat down on a chair, she swayed hither and yon, and was so coggly that I had my fears of a catastrophe on the floor.

1836 January, John Galt, “Tribulations of the Rev. Cowal Kilmun”, in Tait's Edinburgh Magazine, volume 3, number 25, page 33:

(Scotland) Showing signs of alcohol consumption, especially of eyes.


dyke-back

(Scotland) The back of a stonewall or a hedgebank.


penny-pig

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-penny-pig.wav

(Scotland, dated) An earthenware pot containing a slot for the collection of pennies that have been received or saved as a gratuity.


lower sixth

(UK except Scotland) Year 12, the first year of sixth form for 16 to 17 year olds, in which some students sit AS-levels.


upper sixth

(UK except Scotland) Year 13, the second year of sixth form for 17 to 18 year olds, in which students sit A-levels.


Sewel Convention

Named after British politician John Sewel, Baron Sewel.

named-after

(Scotland, law) The British policy that the Parliament of the United Kingdom will generally not legislate for Scotland in respect of devolved matters without the consent of Scottish Parliament.


midgy

midgies (plural)
midgie (alternative)
midgey (alternative)

(Northern England, Scotland) Synonym of midge (“small biting fly”).


sea cat

Phoca vitulina
Phoca vitulina#Translingual

(Scotland) A common or harbor seal (Phoca vitulina).


newcal

(Northern England, Scotland) Of a cow, that has newly given birth.


cooth

cooths (plural)
cuith (alternative)
cuithe (alternative)

Probably from (unattested) Norn, cognate with Icelandic kóð (“small fry”), Norwegian kot (“small fry, young saithe”), regional Swedish kod (“small fry, young saithe”).

cog

A tinker keened like a tartan gull / At cuithe-hung doors.

1959, George Mackay Brown, “Hamnavoe”, in Carve the Runes, Polygon, published 2021, page 17:

(Scotland, chiefly Orkney) A young coalfish or saithe.


foreyear

(UK dialectal, Scotland) The early part of the year; spring.


drook

en-verb

drook (third-person singular simple present drooks, present participle drooking, simple past and past participle drooked)

drooks (present singular third-person)
drooking (participle present)
drooked (participle past)
drooked (past)

Ellen, when she came ashore, was as druckit as a water-wagtail. We had no time to think o' these matters, though. On we behoved to tramp, and we got all to the Duke's quarters about two in the morning. But, […]

1823, John Gibson Lockhart, Reginald Dalton, page 243:

[…] a heavy smirr of rain was drooking the grass, and the trees on every hand shook the water in blobs from the branches. Through them the lights of the finest town in the world shone damp and woe-begone.

1903, Neil Munro, The Lost Pibroch: And Other Sheiling Stories, page 92:

Girls often came home from a feet-washing "fairly drooked," but a wetting like this was never regretted by the one who secured the ring. While this merriment was going on in the wedding house the bridegroom was the victim of much[…]

1913, Old-lore Miscellany of Orkney, Shetland, Caithness, and Sutherland, page 153:

She doesn't wait for an answer. She marches on inside. A few moments later droukit Hugh and dry Weir hear a door slamming and a loud peal of female laughter.

2000, James Robertson, The Fanatic, page 298:

(Scotland, Northern England) To drench, to soak.


feering

(Scotland, agriculture) A furrow drawn out as a marker before ploughing a field.


more by token

(Scotland, Ireland) Especially, still more, the more so.


peatry

[…] his peatry, as I hear, / By virtue of his daughter, makes thousands a year.

1868, James Maidment, A Book of Scotish Pasquils, 1568-1715, page 225:

[...] the peatries and turbaries, the coal fields, quarries, stone, and limestone; […]

1878, John Mackintosh, The History of Civilisation in Scotland, page 232:

[...] had a peatry which yielded thousands annually; […]

1895, John Mackintosh, The History of Civilisation in Scotland, page 346:

Here also are the peatries, where no end of that valuable commodity may yet be had.

1901 June 5, Dundee Advertiser, section 5:

(rare, especially Scotland) Alternative form of peatery.


boa'le

boa'le (third-person singular simple present boa'les, present participle boa'ling, simple past and past participle boa'led)

boa'les (present singular third-person)
boa'ling (participle present)
boa'led (participle past)
boa'led (past)

Sae ah boa'le onto ye, tell nae a lie!

1842, Sir Matthew Donaghy, The Mackay, page 52:

Ah boa'le ye, th' best schemes gang aft agley.

1820, Finlay Smith, Th' stoory o' maccaulay, page 92:

(Scotland, obsolete) to teach a moral [with onto]


mersk

(Northern England, Scotland, possibly obsolete) A merse or marsh.


whiskybae

(chiefly Scotland) Obsolete form of usquebaugh.


brookable

en-adj

brookable (comparative more brookable, superlative most brookable)

more brookable (comparative)
most brookable (superlative)

He saw every feature, and every line of the face, distinctly, as it gazed on him with an intensity that was hardly brookable.

1824, [James Hogg], “The Editor’s Narrative”, in The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner: […], London: […] Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green, […], page 62:

I am maimed. I am dumfoundered ever sin I engaged mysel to Keatie M,Cheyne. Had I been married—downrightly married it had been brookable; but here I am like a dog tied to a kirn that maunna taste the cream for days an’ months an’ years.

1826, James Hogg, “A Pastoral Love Scene”, in Thomas C[harles] Richardson, editor, Contributions to Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine (The Collected Works of James Hogg; 23), volume 1 (1817–1828), Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, published 2008, →ISBN, January–December 1826 (Volumes 19–20); scene 2, page 196:

Burns was naturally flattered by this attention, as appears both from his very clever dedication and letters; for though he was jealous of the great to an extent that was scarcely brookable, and shunned pecuniary obligations to any of them as much as he would have shunned adders in his path, yet, from the whole of his correspondence, it appears that the countenance of the great was highly agreeable to him.

[1832], [James Hogg], “Period of His Residence at Mossgiel”, in “Memoir of Burns”, in the Ettrick Shepherd [pseudonym; James Hogg], William Motherwell, editors, The Works of Robert Burns, volume V, Glasgow: Archibald Fullarton, and Co. […], published 1836, page 64:

But, if ye winna misbelieve me, I can tell ye, that if ye hadna come to Trystingtown the night, some o’ us wad hae been at Greensheiling the morn, if the day had been brookable.

1835, James Telfer, chapter XI, in Barbara Gray, or The Widow’s Daughter: A Narrative of Humble Life, Newcastle upon Tyne: […] J[ohn] Blackwell & Co. and sold by E[merson] Charnley, […], page 171:

Half a year of this had so far exhausted her wonderful patience that she had determined to forego all the other advantages of this otherwise easy service, and rather again endure the severe daily labour of a farmer’s kitchen. But on a hint of this the idea was not brookable to the old people. They consulted their heir-apparent, as well as some other friends, who proposed the settlement of some annuity in her favour if she would at once condescend on living with them for life.

1881, John Younger, chapter XXII, in Autobiography of John Younger, Shoemaker, St. Boswells, […], Kelso, Scottish Borders: J[ohn] & J[ames] H[ogarth] Rutherfurd, […]; Edinburgh; Glasgow: John Menzies & Co., pages 264–265:

(rare, Scotland) That may be brooked; bearable, endurable, tolerable.


wandought

wandought (comparative more wandought, superlative most wandought)

more wandought (comparative)
most wandought (superlative)

From wan- + dought. Compare with Scots wandocht.


browster

From Middle English brouster. A variation of brewster (“brewer”).


poindable

poindable (comparative more poindable, superlative most poindable)

more poindable (comparative)
most poindable (superlative)

(obsolete, Scotland) Capable of being poinded.


quinzie

en-noun

quinzie (countable and uncountable, plural quinzies)


heidbanger

(Scotland) Alternative spelling of headbanger.


idently

(Now chiefly dialectal, Northern England, Scotland) In a diligent or persistent manner.


Skire Thursday

(Scotland, obsolete) Synonym of Maundy Thursday.


salt and chilli chips

salt and pepper chips
salt and pepper chips#English

(UK, especially Scotland and Northern Ireland) Synonym of salt and pepper chips.


clead

en-verb

clead (third-person singular simple present cleads, present participle cleading, simple past and past participle cleaded)

cleads (present singular third-person)
cleading (participle present)
cleaded (participle past)
cleaded (past)
cleed (alternative Scotland)
cled (alternative Scotland)
cleid (alternative Scotland)
cleath (alternative Scotland)
clethe (alternative Scotland)
cleith (alternative Scotland)
cleth (alternative Scotland)

From Middle English clethen, from Old English clǣþan (“to clothe”), from Proto-West Germanic *klaiþijan (“to clothe”), from Proto-Germanic *klaiþijaną (“to clothe”), from Proto-Indo-European *gley- (“to stick to, adhere”). Cognate with Scots cleed, cleid (“to clothe”). Doublet of cloth, clothe, and clad.

der

(transtive, Northen England, Scotland) To clothe.


clead

cleed (alternative Scotland)
cled (alternative Scotland)
cleid (alternative Scotland)
cleath (alternative Scotland)
clethe (alternative Scotland)
cleith (alternative Scotland)
cleth (alternative Scotland)

(Northen England, Scotland) Clothing, attire.


manbody

I'm a lone woman, and have not a manbody about the house.

1857, William Love, The Autobiography of William Love, P.C., page 35:

You will lock the doors at sundown, Ann; and you will let neither manbody nor womanbody o'er the threshold till I win hame again.

1894, Amelia E. Barr, The Lone House, page 16:


bestials

(Scotland, obsolete) Synonym of bestial (“cattle”).


donnat

(Northern England, Scotland) Alternative form of do-naught.


euk

en-verb

euk (third-person singular simple present euks, present participle euking, simple past and past participle euked)

euks (present singular third-person)
euking (participle present)
euked (participle past)
euked (past)


ewk

ewk (third-person singular simple present ewks, present participle ewking, simple past and past participle ewked)

ewks (present singular third-person)
ewking (participle present)
ewked (participle past)
ewked (past)


aneabil

Uncertain. Possibly from ane (a variant of one) + -able, or an alteration of onlepy. Alternatively, from the Latin inhabilis, used to refer to an unmarried man, or Old French anable. Whether the word was used as an adjective or a noun is uncertain.

suf

ane<pos:a variant of <i class="Latn mention" lang="en">one</i>>

(Scotland, obsolete, hapax legomenon) The meaning of this term is uncertain. Possibilities include:

Procreat upon ane Concubine, or as we commonlie say, upon ane aneabil or singill woman, quhom he maries thereafter, as his lawfull wife.

1609, John Skene, transl., Regiam majestatem: the auld lawes and constitutions of Scotland, 1st edition, volume 1:


quhom

Compare quhat and quhere, variants of what and where respectively.

Gif ony man annalzies ony landis titulo oneroſo, to ane uther, and it happin afterwart that the famin landis be compryſit fra the buyar, for debt auchtand be the annalzier of the ſaidis landis to him be quhom thay ar compryſit, and to his aſſignay thairof, […]

1754, Sir James Balfour, compiler, Practicks, Edinburgh: Thomas and Walter Ruddimans, Of warrandice, page 328:

We confesse and acknawledge ane onlie God, to quhom onlie we must cleave, [quhom only we must serve,] quhom onlie we must wirschip, and in quhom onlie we must put our trust; […]

1561, The Confeſſione of the fayht ^([sic]) and doctrine beleued and profeſſed by the Proteſtantes […], Edinburgh: Robert Lekprewik, page 97; republished as David Laing, editor, Works of John Knox, volume 2, Wodrow Society, 1848:

(especially Scotland) Obsolete spelling of whom.


geggee

The members quietly rose from the board and took their hats from the hat-pins, and the geggee took down his greatcoat, and, with the most satisfied air possible, buttoned it across his breast.

1864 January 10, John Strang, Glasgow and Its Clubs: Or Glimpses of the Condition, Manners, Characters, and Oddities of the City, During the Past and Present Centuries, page 337:

There are also a few examples of 3-isograms, such as deeded or geggee, but David was quite adamant that he did not know of any fourth-order isograms.

2014 July 14, Florian Breit, “The Hunt for English Isograms”, in Florian Breit's Blog:

(Scotland, archaic) A victim of a hoax or trick.


greengate

greengates (plural)
green gate (alternative)


codlock

codlocks (plural)
codlick (alternative Northern-Ireland)

Of unknown origin. Possibly suffixed with Scots -lock, which forms diminutives. First attested in 1794.

Pholis gunnellus: The rock gunnel, a ray-finned fish found in coastal waters of the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans.


jawl

en-verb

jawl (third-person singular simple present jawls, present participle jawling, simple past and past participle jawled)

jawls (present singular third-person)
jawling (participle present)
jawled (participle past)
jawled (past)

From Middle English chaulen, chavelen (“to indulge in idle talk, jabber”), from chavel (“jaw”).

(now only Scotland) To talk noisily, prate loudly.


thereuntil

[…] discharging hereby the said sheriff and his deputes, from all further proceeding, cognoscing, or decerning thereuntil […]

1774, George Dallas, A System of Stiles, page 99:

[…] for which there is to be paid to him by the Council twenty pounds money […] wherein is to be counted up all school wages that he gets, which shall be iij s iiij d (3⅓d.) money, from every bairn, and the money of baptisms for booking of children, to be also counted thereuntil […]

1875, The History of the Paisley Grammar School, Robert Brown, page 57:

(Scotland, obsolete) Thereto; to or toward that.


advanced higher

en-noun

advanced higher (plural advanced highers)

(Scotland, education) A national school qualification a level above higher, which allows for further study while still in secondary school.

sàr àrd-ìre

a non-compulsory examination taken in the last year in Scottish high schools


cast snowballs

en-verb

cast snowballs (third-person singular simple present casts snowballs, present participle casting snowballs, simple past and past participle cast snowballs)

casts snowballs (present singular third-person)
casting snowballs (participle present)
cast snowballs (participle past)
cast snowballs (past)

(Scotland, idiomatic, obsolete) To be distant or reserved.


unkirk

unkirk (third-person singular simple present unkirks, present participle unkirking, simple past and past participle unkirked)

unkirks (present singular third-person)
unkirking (participle present)
unkirked (participle past)
unkirked (past)

(transitive, Scotland) Synonym of unchurch.


unkirked

en-adj

unkirked (comparative more unkirked, superlative most unkirked)

more unkirked (comparative)
most unkirked (superlative)


drying green

(Scotland) A communal area attached to a tenement building, consisting of clothes lines and usually a grass surface, used primarily for the drying of clothes and sometimes also for recreational activities.


Piscy

Modest, much-liked and humourous, he played as much a part as any in achieving the damage limitation exercise in Dundee yesterday which enabled the Piscies to close ranks while others were breaking them over the vexed question of women priests.

1989 June 17, “Pixies and Piscies who put the magic in religion”, in The Herald:

A Presbyterian tortured by Mary’s men, / A Tim shot through the head by an Orangeman, / A Piscy by Cromwell, / A Highlander by Cumberland, / I was a heretic burnt by Knox

(Scotland) An Episcopalian; a member of an Episcopal church.


Piscy

Piscy (comparative more Piscy, superlative most Piscy)

more Piscy (comparative)
most Piscy (superlative)

Rumour has it that the doubts were dispelled at a Piscy conclave late on Thursday by the warmth of the Primus' diplomacy, which I am reliably informed extended to serving his fellow bishops a malt from the Bishop of Moray's diocese.

Come to think of it, now that Scottish Episcopal Monopoly is available, Piscy Trivial Pursuits cannot be far behind.

2004 May 28, Kelvin Holdsworth, “Links Added”, in Thurible.net:

(Scotland) Episcopal; related to Episcopalianism.


playpiece

She was jealous of me going though, wanted to see the inside of the Laverys' house for herself, and was in a bad mood with me for the whole of the following day at school. She had three chocolate digestives for her playpiece and wouldn’t give me one.

1989, Joan Lingard, Sisters by Rite, →ISBN, page 29:

They would hunker down in a corner of the schoolyard at playtimes and he would give Betty whatever was left over from the night before, or whatever he had been given for a playpiece.

2002, Meg Henderson, Bloody Mary, →ISBN, page 15:

There were also the 'playpieces' you took to school, although, to confuse the issue slightly, a playpiece didn't always have to include a bread sandwich. It could simply be a chocolate biscuit tucked into your leather satchel to be enjoyed at morning break along with the carton of free milk.

2020, Jeff Zycinski, Travels from my Twlight Zone, →ISBN:

(Scotland) A snack taken by a child to school to be eaten at playtime.