frain

head

frain (third-person singular simple present frains, present participle frainin, simple past fraint, past participle fraint)

frains (present singular third-person)
frainin (participle present)
fraint (past)
fraint (participle past)

From Middle English fraynen, frainen, freinen, from Old English freġnan (“to ask”) and Old Norse fregna (“to ask”), from Proto-Germanic *frehnaną.


queem

From Middle English queme, from Old English cwēme, ġecwēme (“pleasant, pleasing, acceptable, fit”), from Proto-West Germanic *kwāmī, from Proto-Germanic *kwēmijaz (“convenient, appropriate, pleasing”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʷem- (“to come, go”).


queem

smoothly, pleasantly, without snags or hitches


queem

to fit snugly, fall into place, coincide with


hause

(geography) defile, narrow passage between hills, the head of a pass


hause

head

hause (third-person singular simple present hauses, present participle hausin, simple past haused, past participle haused)

hauses (present singular third-person)
hausin (participle present)
haused (past)
haused (participle past)


dafty

That stupit lassie in mah seat – thinks ahm a dafty. Ah've fucked it.

2018, Chris McQueer, HWFG, 404Ink, published 2018, page 9

(please add an English translation of this quotation)


taks

third-person singular present indicative of tak


ingine

From Old French engin, from Latin ingenium.


ingine

From Middle French engin, ultimately the same as Etymology 1 but borrowed later. More at English engine.


brack

brack (third-person singular simple present brackin, present participle brackit, simple past brackit, past participle brackit)

brackin (present singular third-person)
brackit (participle present)
brackit (past)
brackit (participle past)

Mind an da brack aat!


baney

baney (comparative mair baney, superlative maist baney)

mair baney (comparative)
maist baney (superlative)


fummle

fummle (third-person singular simple present fummles, present participle fummlin, simple past fummelt, past participle fummelt)

fummles (present singular third-person)
fummlin (participle present)
fummelt (past)
fummelt (participle past)


cliver

cliver (comparative cliverer, superlative cliverest)

cliverer (comparative)
cliverest (superlative)


flird

From Middle English flerd (“fraud, deceit”), from Old English fleard (“nonsense, deception, fraud, superstition”). Cognate with Icelandic flærð (“deceit”), Swedish flärd (“vanity, frivolity, flamboyance”). More at flirt.

cog

Anything insufficient or thin (e.g. a toy; slice of cake cut too thin; a weak, flimsy board, etc.)

Old, forworn, or unsubstantial clothing; a flimsy dress, rags (clothing)


flird

(intransitive) To flutter; flounce; flaunt.


wadna

In the New Forest, 1847, THE OUTLAW Oh, I wadna be a yeoman, mither, to follow my father's trade, To bow my back in miry banks, at pleugh and hoe and spade.

1852, Charles Kingsley, Andromeda and Other Poems

--O Tibbie, I hae seen the day, Ye wadna been sae shy; For laik o' gear ye lightly me, But, trowth, I care na by.

1780, Robert Burns, Poems And Songs Of Robert Burns

I would fain carry it mysel', but they wadna let me."

1832, Various, The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, Vol. 20,


Weelum

a male given name, equivalent to English William


abune

Now deil-ma-care about their jaw, The senseless, gawky million; I'll cock my nose abune them a', I'm roos'd by Craigen-Gillan!

In the forefront o' that castelle feir, Twa unicorns are bra' to see; There's the picture of a knight, and a ladye bright, And the grene hollin abune their brie.

1806, Walter Scott, Minstrelsy of the Scottish border (3rd ed) (1 of 3)

"Leeze me abune them a'," said one of the company, who had waxed warm in the discussion, "for yon auld clear-headed (bald) man, that said, 'Raphael sings an' Gabriel strikes his goolden harp, an' a' the angels clap their wings wi' joy.'

1874, Edward Bannerman Ramsay, Reminiscences of Scottish Life and Character

There was a nesty plook cam' oot juist abune his lug on Setarday, an' he cudna get on his lum hat; so he had to bide at hame a' Sabbath, an' he spent the feck o' the day i' the hoose readin' Tammas Boston's "Power-fold State" an' the "Pilgrim's Progress."


gress

From Early Scots gres, from Old English græs.


hairst

From Early Scots harvist, herwist, hervist, hervest, from Middle English harvest, hervest, from Old English hærfest (“autumn; harvest”), from Proto-West Germanic *harbist. Cognate with English harvest, German Herbst (“autumn”).


weirlike

head

weirlike (comparative mair weirlike, superlative maist weirlike)

mair weirlike (comparative)
maist weirlike (superlative)


airm

From Middle English arm, from Old English earm, from Proto-West Germanic *arm.

‘You,’ she says, grabbing mah airm and hawdin it behind mah back.

2018, Chris McQueer, HWFG, 404Ink, published 2018, page 8

‘You,’ she says, grabbing my arm and holding it behind my back.


daud

onomatopoeic

imitative


daud

imitative


uisefu

head

uisefu (comparative mair uisefu, superlative maist uisefu)

mair uisefu (comparative)
maist uisefu (superlative)


deeficult

deeficult (comparative mair deeficult, superlative maist deeficult)

mair deeficult (comparative)
maist deeficult (superlative)


Ingland

From Middle English Ingland, from Old English Engla land (literally “land of the Angles”)


modren

head

modren (comparative mair modren, superlative maist modren)

mair modren (comparative)
maist modren (superlative)

From late Middle English modern, from Late Latin modernus.


freend

From Middle English frend, freend, from Old English frēond, from Proto-Germanic *frijōndz.

Weel, ye see, as I was telling ye, things passed on in this way till I was thirty, when a respectable flesher in Edinburgh that I did a good deal o' business wi', and that had just got married, says to me in the Grassmarket ae day: 'Davy,' says he, 'ye're no gaun out o' the toun the night--will ye come and tak' tea and supper wi' the wife and me, and a freend or twa?' "'

1884, various, Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, XXII

"But a' wudna like ye tae sell Jess, for she's been a faithfu' servant, an' a freend tae.

1895, Ian Maclaren, A Doctor of the Old School, Part 4

Warslin', steerin' wi' hens an' swine, Naucht kens she o' a freend o' mine-- But the Gowk that bides i' the woods o' Dun He kens him fine!

1919, Violet Jacob, Songs of Angus and More Songs of Angus

"Ailie," said James, "this is Maister John, the young doctor; Rab's freend, ye ken.

1922, Charles H. Sylvester, Journeys Through Bookland, Vol. 6


aforetimes

aforetimes (comparative mair aforetimes, superlative maist aforetimes)

mair aforetimes (comparative)
maist aforetimes (superlative)


daith

From Middle English deeth, from Old English dēaþ, from Proto-West Germanic *dauþu, from Proto-Germanic *dauþuz.


saunt

From Middle English seint, partly from Old English sanct (“saint”) and partly from and confluence with Anglo-Norman seint, from Old French saint, seinte; both ultimately from Latin sanctus (“holy, consecrated, saint”). Close cognate with English saint and French saint.

der

Ye mak a devil o' the Saunts, An' fill them fou.

1784, Robert Burns, Epistle to J. Rankine ii.

First an' foremost, Saunt Jeems, the poetical vreeter. Saunt Tusker, Saunt Conrick, an' a' sirs ; An' ower at the Palace lives jolly Saunt Peter, An' yer welcome, ye ken, to Saunt La, sirs. We've lately been blest wi' anither same loon — Did ye ...

(colloquial) An exceptionally holy, pious, and/or kind person.

A saunt o Sannie Lyons, for they were deevils wi gweedness

said of one who never pleaded guilty to a fault.

(derogatory) A wastrel, a sanctimonious hypocrite; a reprobate.


saunt

head

saunt (third-person singular simple present saunts, present participle sauntin, simple past saunt, past participle santet or sauntit or saunten)

saunts (present singular third-person)
sauntin (participle present)
saunt (past)
santet (participle past)
sauntit (participle past)
saunten (participle past)

Neither sae sinfu' as to sink, nor so haly as to saunt.

(intransitive) To disappear, vanish; especially in a sudden and/or mysterious way.

(intransitive) To be silently swallowed up.

Na, I'll never fin 'm; he's been santet.

1914, James S. Angus, (Please provide the book title or journal name)

(transitive) To cause to vanish in a sudden or inexplicable manner; to spirit away.


tocher

Your proffer o' luve's an airle-penny, / My tocher's the bargain ye wad buy […].

1791, Robert Burns, My Tocher's the Jewel


forby

Inherited from Middle English forby, forbi.


rief

Why he should na be treated as ane o' the wicked thieves and limmers o' the clans wha carry off their neighbours gear and live by rief, […]

1820, David Carey, Lochiel; Or, The Field of Culloden, volume 2, page 157


roch

From Old English rūh, from Proto-Germanic *rūhwaz.


roch

roch (comparative mair roch, superlative maist roch)

mair roch (comparative)
maist roch (superlative)

abundant, bounteous, plentifully supplied, well-furnished (especially with good plain fare)

(agriculture, etc., of the growth of grass or crops) strong, luxuriant, dense, luxuriant but of poor quality, rank

(agriculture, of sheep) unshorn, unclipped


roch

rochle

to toss about, agitate, shake roughly, tousle

rochsome

somewhat rough or uneven, rude, crude, uncouth


winna

"An' warn him--what I winna name-- To stay content wi' yowes at hame; An' no to rin an' wear his cloots, Like ither menseless, graceless brutes.

They that winna ride for Telfer's kye, Let them never look in the face o' me!

Well, madam, it's just this, that his lordship would be very glad to see ye and Mr. Mellot, for he's vary ill indeed, and that's truth; and if he winna tell ye the cause, then I will--and it's just a' for love of this play-acting body here, and more's the pity." "

1901, Charles Kingsley, Two Years Ago, Volume I


daver

daver (third-person singular simple present davers, present participle daverin, simple past davert, past participle davert)

davers (present singular third-person)
daverin (participle present)
davert (past)
davert (participle past)

To wander aimlessly or in a dazed fashion.


Muirhoose

Muirhouse, a neighbourhood in Edinburgh, Scotland


spak

Then spak the lord, hight Hamilton, And to the nobil king said he, "My sovereign prince, sum counsell take, First at your nobilis, syne at me.

But whan he spak, it was mair in sorrow than in anger.

1905, Robert Louis Stevenson, David Balfour, Second Part

And I'll do this messenger justice; he laid down no law to me, he only spak o' the duty laid on his own conscience; but my conscience said 'Amen' to his--that's about it.

1898, Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr, Scottish sketches

Ful wel she song the service divyne, Entuned in hir nose ful semely; And Frensh she spak ful faire and fetisly, After the scole of Stratford atte Bowe, For Frensh of Paris was to hir unknowe..."

1896, Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch, Adventures in Criticism

Them was t' truest words he iver spak, an' shoo would hae been muck-cheap if I'd gien a million pund for her."

1919, Frederic Moorman, More Tales of the Ridings

I went unto her mother, and I argued and I fleech'd, I spak o' love and honesty, and mair and mair beseech'd; But she was deaf to a' my grief, she wadna look on me; O poverty!

1857, Various, The Modern Scottish Minstrel, Volume IV.

Het as he was, he took a kind o' cauld grue in the marrow o' his banes; but up he spak for a' that; an' says he: 'My friend, are you a stranger in this place?'

1904, Robert Louis Stevenson, The Merry Men


Mairch

From Middle English March, Marche, borrowed from Anglo-Norman marche, from Old French marz, from Latin mārtius (“month of the god Mars”), from earlier Mavors.


Apryle

From Middle English apprile, Aprill, re-Latinised from Middle English aueril, from Old French avrill, from Latin Aprīlis (“of the month of the goddess Venus”), perhaps based on Etruscan 𐌀𐌐𐌓𐌖 (apru), from Ancient Greek Ἀφροδίτη (Aphrodítē, “Venus”).


Juin

From Middle English June, june, re-Latinised from Middle English Juyn, juyng, from Old French juing, juin, from Latin iūnius, the month of the goddess Iuno (“Juno”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *yuwn̥kós, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂óyu (“vital force, youthful vigor”).

June (the sixth month of the year on the Gregorian calendar.)


Mey

From Middle English May, Mai, from Old French mai, from Latin māius (“Maia's month”), from Maia, a Roman earth goddess, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *magya (“she who is great”), from Proto-Indo-European *méǵh₂s (“great”).


Broch

Doric Scots form of Fraserburgh (“a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland”)

Doric Scots form of Burghead (“a town in Moray, Scotland”)


winnock

From Old Norse vindauga, from vindr (“wind”) + auga (“eye”).

List'ning the doors an' winnocks rattle


strawn

A variant of strand (“small brook, gutter”).


strawn

string (“a number of objects strung on a thread”).


forspeak

From Middle English forspeken (“to bewitch”), from Old English forsprecan (“to speak in vain; to speak amiss; to denounce; to deny”).

To bewitch or cast a spell over, especially using flattery or undue praise; to seduce.


Nanse

a diminutive of the female given name Agnes, equivalent to English Nancy


deevil

If the deevil himsel was in the auld hoose, I have no interest in 't one way or another

1881, Margaret O. (Wilson) Oliphant, The Open Door, and the Portrait. (in English)

" "Sandy, hold your peace!" cried his wife imperatively. "

The last I saw of her she had seized the khansamah's young assistant and was shouting at him, "Chokra

1912, O. Douglas, Olivia in India (in English)

ye impident little black deevil, will you tell this moment, has there been an accident?"


thede

From Middle English thede, thiode, from Old English þēod (“nation, people”). See above.

(obsolete) a country; a nation; a people or community


faur

head

faur (comparative mair faur, superlative maist faur)

mair faur (comparative)
maist faur (superlative)


quhether

Then the nixt cair man be to try your faith, and to see quhether ye have faith, or not.

1843, Robert Bruce, Robert Wodrow, Sermons


sall

The wind sall blaw for evermair.


meith

A landmark, seamark or other point of reference.


fren

fren (third-person singular simple present frens, present participle frennin, simple past frennit, past participle frennit)

frens (present singular third-person)
frennin (participle present)
frennit (past)
frennit (participle past)

(poetic) To rage; to be in a state of rage.


bammy

bammy (comparative bammier, superlative bammiest)

bammier (comparative)
bammiest (superlative)

He ran tae the windae, threw it open and clambered oot ontae the sill. Ah thought he'd gone bammy...ye know, right aff his heid!

1999, David Armstrong, The First Teenagers, page 22

He ran to the window, threw it open and clambered out onto the sill. I thought he'd gone barmy...you know, right off his head!

‘We goat kicked oot ae there,’ another member ae this group, the world's bammiest boayband says, noddin taeward the live lounge.

2018, Chris McQueer, HWFG, 404Ink, published 2018, page 10

‘We got kicked out of there,’ another member of this group, the world's craziest boy band says, nodding toward the live lounge.


faw

faw (comparative mair faw, superlative maist faw)

mair faw (comparative)
maist faw (superlative)

From Middle English fawe, faȝe, from Old English fāg, fāh (“coloured; stained; dyed; tinged; shining; variegated”), from Proto-West Germanic *faih, from Proto-Germanic *faihaz (“coloured; motley”), from Proto-Indo-European *peyḱ- (“to mark, paint, colour”).


deef

head

deef (comparative mair deef, superlative maist deef)

mair deef (comparative)
maist deef (superlative)

From Middle English deaf, from Old English dēaf.


wrength

1823, from wrang, wrong (“wrong”), formed on analogy with strength (from strong), length (from long) by R. Gilhaize Galt, or from Middle English wrengðe (“wrongfulness”). More at wrong.


outgang

From Middle English outgang, from Old English ūtgang (“an outgoing, exit”), from Proto-Germanic *ūtgangaz.

inh

(commercial) a departure of goods by way of exportation; the duty applied to exported goods, export duty


fraining

From Middle English frayning, fraynyng (“questioning”), related to frainen (“to ask”).


forbye

‘they ca' it fasting when they hae the best o' sea-fish frae Hartlepool and Sunderland by land carriage, forbye trouts, grilses, salmon, and a' the lave o't, and so they make their very fasting a kind of luxury and abomination [...].’


forbye

'And mind them there's plenty of bread, and some chicken in the fridge, and cheese, and plenty of soup forbye, if you get hungry again.'


muirland

head

muirland (countable and uncountable, plural muirlands)


preceesely

preceesely (comparative mair preceesely, superlative maist preceesely)

mair preceesely (comparative)
maist preceesely (superlative)


ceevil

ceevil (comparative mair ceevil, superlative maist ceevil)

mair ceevil (comparative)
maist ceevil (superlative)


skeel

skeel (countable and uncountable, plural skeels)


siller

Inherited from Middle English silver, from Old English seolfor, from Proto-West Germanic *silubr, from Proto-Germanic *silubrą.


siller

The great folk hae siller, and houses and lands

1792, Robert Burns, When Princes and Prelates

“Here, Dougal,” said the laird, “gie Steenie a tass of brandy, till I count the siller and write the receipt.”

1824, Sir Walter Scott, “Wandering Willie's Tale”, in Redgauntlet


peety

peety (third-person singular simple present peeties, present participle peetyin, simple past peetied, past participle peetied)

peeties (present singular third-person)
peetyin (participle present)
peetied (past)
peetied (participle past)


I wis

I wis (comparative mair I wis, superlative maist I wis)

mair I wis (comparative)
maist I wis (superlative)

From Middle English iwis, from Old English ġewiss (“certainly, indeed”). More at wis.


respeckit

head

respeckit (comparative mair respeckit, superlative maist respeckit)

mair respeckit (comparative)
maist respeckit (superlative)


disrepitable

disrepitable (comparative mair disrepitable, superlative maist disrepitable)

mair disrepitable (comparative)
maist disrepitable (superlative)


keepit

simple past tense and past participle of keep


hirn

From Middle English herne, hirne, from Old English hyrne (“horn, corner, angle”), from Proto-West Germanic *hurnijā, from Proto-Germanic *hurnijǭ (“horn, corner, angle”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱerh₂- (“horn”).
Cognate with Old Frisian herne (“horn, corner, angle”), Norwegian hyrna (“corner”), Icelandic hyrna (“point of an axehead, mountain peak”). More at horn.

cog

To ilka hirn he takes his rout / And gangs just stavering about / In quest o'prey.


ahint

(of time) in the past, in one's past life

(of time) at a later time, late, too late


Palmira

Palmyra (ancient Semitic city in modern Syria)


whilk

From Middle English whilk, northern variant of which, from Old English hwilc, from Proto-Germanic *hwilīkaz.

Then he, having mind of Beelzebub, the god of flies, fled without a halt homewards; but, falling in the coo's loan, broke two ribs and a collar bone, the whilk misfortune was much blessed to his soul.

1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide


whilk

"Deed, mem," said George, whose acquaintance with Scripture was neither extensive nor precise, "to my mind he's jist a fulfilment o' the prophecee, 'An auld heid upo' young shouthers;' though I canna richtly min' whilk o' the lesser prophets it is that conteens 't."

1900, George MacDonald, Alec Forbes of Howglen

Whan first amang the dewy flowers, Aside yon siller stream, My lowin' heart was press'd to yours, Nae purer did they seem; Nae purer seem'd the draps o' dew, The flowers on whilk they hung, Than seem'd the heart I felt in you As to that heart I clung.

An' now Thou kens our waefu' case; For Geordie's jurr we're in disgrace, Because we stang'd her through the place, An' hurt her spleuchan; For whilk we daurna show our face Within the clachan.

1780, Robert Burns, Poems And Songs Of Robert Burns


waesucks

Waesucks! for him that gets nae lass, / Or lasses that hae naething.


driegh

head

driegh (comparative mair driegh, superlative maist driegh)

mair driegh (comparative)
maist driegh (superlative)


umbethink

umbethink (third-person singular simple present umbethinks, present participle umbethinkin, simple past umbethocht, past participle umbethocht)

umbethinks (present singular third-person)
umbethinkin (participle present)
umbethocht (past)
umbethocht (participle past)

From Middle English umbethenken, from Old English ymbeþencan, ymbþencan (“to think about, consider, deliberate”), from ymb- (“around”) + þencan (“to think”).

(reflexive) To consider, think about, bethink


forstand

From Middle English forstanden, from Old English forstandan (“to defend, understand”), from Proto-West Germanic *frastandan (“to understand, oppose”), equivalent to for- + stand.


describit

simple past tense and past participle of describe


devolvit

simple past tense and past participle of devolve


byland

A partition of land jutting out into the sea, peninsula


urnae

Am urnae feeling well today


tauld

simple past tense and past participle of tell


luif

Inherited from Northern Middle English lufe, luf, from Old Norse lófi, from Proto-Germanic *lōfô.


peetiful

head

peetiful (comparative mair peetiful, superlative maist peetiful)

mair peetiful (comparative)
maist peetiful (superlative)


brawly

brawly (comparative mair brawly, superlative maist brawly)

mair brawly (comparative)
maist brawly (superlative)


chield

O thou grim, mischief-making chiel

1786, Robert Burns, Address To The Toothache


wankle

wankle (comparative mair wankle, superlative maist wankle)

mair wankle (comparative)
maist wankle (superlative)

From Middle English wankel, wankill, from Old English wancol, from Proto-West Germanic *wankul.

G. Stuart
Your wankle leggs canno support ye / Sae sit ye down, till I exhort ye.


thrang

thrang (comparative mair thrang, superlative maist thrang)

mair thrang (comparative)
maist thrang (superlative)

→ Scottish Gaelic: trang


aint

aint (third-person singular simple present aints, present participle aintin, simple past aintit, past participle aintit)

aints (present singular third-person)
aintin (participle present)
aintit (past)
aintit (participle past)

Derived from Old Norse enta (“to regard, heed, notice, look after”).

der

(Orkney) to tend, heed, look after someone


ourie

head

ourie (comparative mair ourie, superlative maist ourie)

mair ourie (comparative)
maist ourie (superlative)

From Old Norse úr (“drizzle, spray”), from Proto-Germanic *ūrą, from Proto-Indo-European *uh₁r-, zero grade form of *weh₁r- (“water”).

Chill; having the sensation of cold; drooping; shivering.

Familiar with all the seasons he represents the phases of a northern winter with a frequency characteristic of his clime and of his fortunes; her tempests became anthems in his verse, and the sounding woods "raise his thoughts to Him that walketh on the wings of the wind"; full of pity for the shelterless poor, the "ourie cattle," the "silly sheep," and the "helpless birds," he yet reflects that the bitter blast is not "so unkind as man's ingratitude."

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 4, "Bulgaria" to "Calgary" (BURNS, ROBERT [1759-1796], Scottish poet)


tocome

tocome (third-person singular simple present tocomes, present participle tocomin, simple past tocam, past participle tocomen or tocomet)

tocomes (present singular third-person)
tocomin (participle present)
tocam (past)
tocomen (participle past)
tocomet (participle past)

From Middle English tocomen (“to come, arrive, happen”), from Old English tōcuman (“to come, arrive”), from Proto-Germanic *tō (“to”), *kwemaną (“to come”), equivalent to to- + come. Cognate with Dutch toekomen (“to forward, deserve, merit, suffice”), German zukommen (“to come on, benefit, become”).

cog

(of a letter, package, etc.) To arrive at, reach a destination; come to a person's attention.

(of an event) To happen; to be about to happen.


tocome

From Middle English to-come, from Old English tōcyme (“coming, advent, arrival”).

inh

in tocum


klondyke

To export fresh fish (usually herring or mackerel) rather than pickled ones.


tocum

head

tocum (third-person singular simple present tocumis, present participle tocumin, simple past tocam, past participle tocumen or tocumit)

tocumis (present singular third-person)
tocumin (participle present)
tocam (past)
tocumen (participle past)
tocumit (participle past)


erd

From erde, northern variant of Middle English erthe; compare Old English eard (“homeland; earth”).

by a’ the erd


erd

erd (third-person singular simple present erds, present participle erdin, simple past erdit, past participle erdit)

erds (present singular third-person)
erdin (participle present)
erdit (past)
erdit (participle past)

to cover with earth, to store underground


samin

From Middle English samenn, samen, from Old English samen (“together”), from Proto-West Germanic *saman, from Proto-Germanic *samana (“together”), from Proto-Indo-European *sem- (“same, like, together”). Cognate with Old Frisian samin (“together”), Dutch samen (“together”), German zusammen (“together”), Icelandic saman (“together”). More at same.

der

Together; in association or in company with.


laggen

(obsolete) The angle between the side and bottom of a wooden dish.


abreist

From Middle English abrest, equivalent to a- + breist.


aefauld

head

aefauld (comparative mair aefauld, superlative maist aefauld)

mair aefauld (comparative)
maist aefauld (superlative)

From Middle English anfald, from Old English ānfeald (“single, simple”, literally “onefold”), from Proto-Germanic *ainafalþaz (“onefold, simple”), equivalent to ae + -fauld. Cognate with Dutch eenvoud (“simple, easy”), German Einfalt (“simplicity”), Icelandic einfaldur (“simple”), Gothic 𐌰𐌹𐌽𐍆𐌰𐌻𐌸𐍃 (ainfalþs, “simple”). More at onefold.

inh

Syne frae the wheel, an' eke the reel, The aefauld yarn was ta'en awa'.

1875, John Watson, Samples of Common Sense

Then from the wheel, and also the reel, The single yarn was taken away.

(rare, not comparable) one; single, unitary

Hae min' now, O Lord, I beseik thee, how I airted my gate afore ye, in truth ay an' wi' a aefauld heart.

1879, Peter Hately Waddell, transl., Isaiah: frae Hebrew intil Scottis, translation of Book of Isaiah, lines 38–3

Remember now, O Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart,


waff

head

waff (third-person singular simple present waffs, present participle waffin, simple past wafft, past participle wafft)

waffs (present singular third-person)
waffin (participle present)
wafft (past)
wafft (participle past)

waffle (Etymology 2) (in the sense "vacillate")

From Middle English waffe, northern variant of waven, from Old English wafian (“to wave”). Compare also Middle English waf, wayfe (“smell; waft; odour”).


chaumer

→ Scottish Gaelic: seòmar

From Middle English chambre, chaumbre, from Old French chambre, from Latin camera, from Ancient Greek καμάρα (kamára, “vaulted chamber”).


guidwilly

head

guidwilly (comparative mair guidwilly, superlative maist guidwilly)

mair guidwilly (comparative)
maist guidwilly (superlative)

kindly, hearty, cordial, generous, open-handed


deil

From Middle English devel, from Old English dēofol.

1827, Sir Walter Scott, "The Highland Widow" ch. 2, in The Chronicles of the Canongate

Those in the Lowland line who lay near him, and desired to enjoy their lives and property in quiet, were contented to pay him a small composition, in name of protection money, and comforted themselves with the old proverb that it was better to "fleech the deil than fight him."
(please add an English translation of this quotation)


exies

Perhaps from English access (“an attack, a fit”).

(obsolete) A fit of ecstasy or hysterics.


tocoming

From Middle English tocoming, deverbal of tocomen (“to arrive, approach”). More at tocome.

Be thir words war said his men was sa inrageit and ruschit sa furieouslie wpoun the Inglisch wangaird witht exis speiris and halberds and maid sa great slaughter at the first tocoming that they put the Inglisch men cleane abak fre thair standart and compelled thame at the last to tak the flight.

1899, Robert Lindsay, Ae. James George Mackay, The historie and cronicles of Scotland


laich

laich (comparative mair laich, superlative maist laich)

mair laich (comparative)
maist laich (superlative)

From Middle English laghe, lāh, from Old Norse lágr, from Proto-Germanic *lēgaz. Cognate with English low.


tooboot

From to- + bute (“ridge of ploughed land”).


tochange

tochange (third-person singular simple present tochanges, present participle tochangin, simple past tochanget, past participle tochanget)

tochanges (present singular third-person)
tochangin (participle present)
tochanget (past)
tochanget (participle past)

To change or alter utterly or completely; transform; transfigure.


to-worne

to-worne (comparative mair to-worne, superlative maist to-worne)

mair to-worne (comparative)
maist to-worne (superlative)

From to- + worne (“worn”), past participle of were (“to wear”). More at to-, wear.


to-rare

to-rare (third-person singular simple present to-rares, present participle to-rarin, simple past to-raret, past participle to-raret)

to-rares (present singular third-person)
to-rarin (participle present)
to-raret (past)
to-raret (participle past)

From to- + rare (“roar”). More at to-, roar.


too-meill

From to- + mele (“meal”). More at to-, meal.

A meal given in addition; an additional or extra meal.


to-wrye

to-wrye (third-person singular simple present to-wryes, present participle to-wryin, simple past to-wryet, past participle to-wryet)

to-wryes (present singular third-person)
to-wryin (participle present)
to-wryet (past)
to-wryet (participle past)

From to- + wrye (“to wry”). More at to-, wry.


to-cleve

to-cleve (third-person singular simple present to-cleves, present participle to-clevin, simple past to-claif, past participle to-claif)

to-cleves (present singular third-person)
to-clevin (participle present)
to-claif (past)
to-claif (participle past)

From Middle English tocleven, from Old English tōclēofan (“to cleave apart, cleave in two”), equivalent to to- + cleve (“to cleave”). Cognate with English tocleave. More at to-, cleave.


auld lang syne

Cognate to English old long since: see auld + lang + syne. The term was popularized by Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759–1796), but the phrase predates his version of the poem “Auld Lang Syne” (1788).

nb...

Newly Corrected and Amended, with a Large and New
Edition of Several Exellent Love Lines, to be Sung with Its Own Proper Musical Sweet Tune.

For auld lang syne, my jo, for auld lang syne, we’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet, for auld lang syne.

Yet, man, it’s lang sen we, togither / Hev hed a crack wi’ yen anither / An now I’m nowther leath nor lither / If ye’ve a meynde / To reang first tea part an’ than t’other / Of auld lang syne.

1839, Dialogues, Poems, Songs, and Ballads, page 161

And when I’m cutting, and stitching, and hammering, at the window, and dreaming o’ auld lang syne, and fechting my battles ower again, and when I think o’ this and that awra’ time that I have seen wi’ brave comrades noo lying in some neuk in Spain

1867, Eliakim Littell, Robert S. Littell, The Living Age ..., page 385

Auld Lang Syne
National Library of Scotland
Robert Burns


airish

head

airish (comparative mair airish, superlative maist airish)

mair airish (comparative)
maist airish (superlative)


buftie

- Ah'm no a buftie pal, ah tell um. He looks confused. - No homosexual, ah point at masel, feeling vaguely ridiculous. What a fuckin daft thing tae say.

1993, Irvine Welsh, Trainspotting, page 233


tenty

tenty (comparative mair tenty, superlative maist tenty)

mair tenty (comparative)
maist tenty (superlative)


souk in

souk in (third-person singular simple present souks in, present participle soukin in, simple past soukit in, past participle soukit in)

souks in (present singular third-person)
soukin in (participle present)
soukit in (past)
soukit in (participle past)


jow

jow (third-person singular simple present jows, present participle jowin, simple past jowt, past participle jowt)

jows (present singular third-person)
jowin (participle present)
jowt (past)
jowt (participle past)

(transitive, intransitive) To ring or toll (a bell).


weirdie

smallest or least thriving of a brood, runt


feuch

feuch (third-person singular simple present feuchs, present participle feuchin, simple past feuched, past participle feuched)

feuchs (present singular third-person)
feuchin (participle present)
feuched (past)
feuched (participle past)

Onomatopoeic or imitative. Origins are uncertain and may reflect multiple, independent etymologies. Scottish National Dictionary suggests that the "beat" senses may be influenced by fauch "to claw; to toil". Attested in various senses since the mid 1700s.


feuch

A state of excitement or fury; an uproar


eneugh

eneugh (comparative mair eneugh, superlative maist eneugh)

mair eneugh (comparative)
maist eneugh (superlative)


foreanent

fore + anent (“fronting, opposite, over against”)


weanish

head

weanish (comparative mair weanish, superlative maist weanish)

mair weanish (comparative)
maist weanish (superlative)


muir cheeper

Anthus pratensis
Anthus pratensis#Translingual


frammit

frammit (comparative mair frammit, superlative maist frammit)

mair frammit (comparative)
maist frammit (superlative)


Ander

a male given name, equivalent to English Andrew


spaewife

spae (“to prophesy, foretell, predict, tell fortunes”) + wife (“woman”)


gullion

Variant of cullion, from Old French coyon (“scoundrel”) or couille (“scrotum; testicle”).


souther

head

souther (third-person singular simple present southers, present participle southerin, simple past southert, past participle southert)

southers (present singular third-person)
southerin (participle present)
southert (past)
southert (participle past)


huik

huik (third-person singular simple present huiks, present participle huikin, simple past huikt, past participle huikt)

huiks (present singular third-person)
huikin (participle present)
huikt (past)
huikt (participle past)

Origin obscure. Perhaps a survival of Old English hyċġan (“to think about, to consider”), or a borrowing of Middle Dutch heugen, huegen (“to think about, heed, remember, recall”).

unc

obscure

inh

Tak thay not tent he will not huik it,

1837-1901, Sempill Robert, Thomas Churchyard, edited by James Cranstoun, Satirical poems of the time of the reformation, Edinburgh, London: W. Blackwood and sons, published 1891, page 128

To regard, pay attention to, take into account.


agl

head

agl (third-person singular simple present agls, present participle aglin, simple past agled, past participle agled)

agls (present singular third-person)
aglin (participle present)
agled (past)
agled (participle past)


forgettle

forgettle (comparative mair forgettle, superlative maist forgettle)

mair forgettle (comparative)
maist forgettle (superlative)

From Middle English forȝetil, from Old English forġitel (“forgetful”), from Proto-West Germanic *fragetul; equivalent to forget + -le. Cognate with West Frisian forgittel, Dutch vergetel, Low German forgetel.

Having the tendency to forget; forgetful


aarm

(Shetland) end, especially of a fishing-line.


forgettil

forgettil (comparative mair forgettil, superlative maist forgettil)

mair forgettil (comparative)
maist forgettil (superlative)


forenail

forenail (third-person singular simple present forenails, present participle forenailin, simple past forenailt, past participle forenailt)

forenails (present singular third-person)
forenailin (participle present)
forenailt (past)
forenailt (participle past)

To pledge or earmark money for future use before it is earned.


forleet

forleet (third-person singular simple present forleets, present participle forleetin, simple past forleett, past participle forleett)

forleets (present singular third-person)
forleetin (participle present)
forleett (past)
forleett (participle past)

From Middle English forleten, from Old English forlǣtan, from Proto-Germanic *fralētaną.

To forsake, desert, leave behind, neglect, abandon


skaith

From Middle English scathe, from Old English sceaþa (also sceaþu (“scathe, harm, injury”)), from Proto-West Germanic *skaþō. Cognate with English scathe.

--Quoth I, "Guid faith, Ye're maybe come to stap my breath; But tent me, billie; I red ye weel, tak care o' skaith See, there's a gully!"

And attour, either of the saids parties bind and oblige them, be the faith and truth of their bodies, ilk ane to others, that they shall be leil and true to others, and neither of them will another's skaith, but they shall let it at their power, and give to others their best counsel, and it be asked; and shall take leil and aeffald part ilk ane with others, with their kin, friends, servants, allies, and partakers, in all and sundry their actions, quarrels, and debates, against all that live and die (may the allegiance of our sovereign lord the king allenarly be excepted).

1806, Walter Scott, Minstrelsy of the Scottish border (3rd ed) (1 of 3)

something that harms; a harmful agent or influence

damage done by the trespass of animals; the act or offence thereof

harm or injury attributed to witchcraft or the evil eye; a disorder of cattle supposedly caused by this

skaith-dues

damage or injury involving compensation or financial requital; damages, costs, penalty

to stand in one's skaith

a compensation paid to one for one's trouble or services; a liability for such


skaith

skaith (present participle skaithin, simple past skaitht, past participle skaitht)

skaithin (participle present)
skaitht (past)
skaitht (participle past)

From Middle English scathen, skathen, from Old English sceaþian, scaþan (“to scathe, hurt, harm, injure”) and Old Norse skaða (“to hurt”), both from Proto-Germanic *skaþōną (“to injure”). Cognate with English scathe.

to penalise, serve as a penalty, fine or compensation


feart

feart (comparative mair feart, superlative maist feart)

mair feart (comparative)
maist feart (superlative)

It’s the science man I’m feart from. He’s the sort that’ll hammer ye jist because he’s in a bad mood.

It's the scientist I'm afraid of. He's the sort that'll hammer you just because he's in a bad mood.

Wee cunt looks feart ae me noo when joost a second ago he wis laughin at me.

The little cunt looks afraid of me now, when just a second ago he was laughing at me.


fleg

She 's gien me mony a jirt an' fleg, Sin' I could striddle owre a rig; But, by the Lord, tho' I should beg Wi' lyart pow, I'll laugh an' sing, an' shake my leg, As lang's I dow!


dacker

dacker (third-person singular simple present dackers, present participle dackerin, simple past dackert, past participle dackert)

dackers (present singular third-person)
dackerin (participle present)
dackert (past)
dackert (participle past)

I e'en daiker on wi' the family frae year's end to year's end.


fre

fre (comparative mair fre, superlative maist fre)

mair fre (comparative)
maist fre (superlative)

From Middle English fre, freo, from Old English frēo (“free”), from Proto-West Germanic *frī, from Proto-Germanic *frijaz (“beloved, not in bondage”), from Proto-Indo-European *priHós (“dear, beloved”), from *preyH- (“to love, to please”).
Related to English friend. Cognate with West Frisian frij (“free”), Dutch vrij (“free”), Low German free (“free”), German frei (“free”), Friede (“peace”), Danish, Swedish and Norwegian fri (“free”), Sanskrit प्रिय (priyá).


fre

head

fre (third-person singular simple present fres, present participle frein, simple past fret, past participle fret)

fres (present singular third-person)
frein (participle present)
fret (past)
fret (participle past)


wame

From Middle English wambe, wame, wamb, forms of womb (“belly, womb”), from Old English wamb (“belly”).

1817, Walter Scott, Rob Roy (in English and Scots)

"why, Andrew, you know all the secrets of this family.". "If I ken them, I can keep them," said Andrew; "they winna work in my wame like harm in a barrel, I'se warrant ye."
(please add an English translation of this quotation)


barkit

barkit (comparative mair barkit, superlative maist barkit)

mair barkit (comparative)
maist barkit (superlative)


queez-maddam

He'll glowr at an auld-warld barkit aik-snag as if it were a queez-maddam in full bearing […]


beuch

ane bird, on ane bransche, so birst out hir notis, / That never ane blythfullar bird was on the beuche harde [...].

c. 1495, William Dunbar, The Tua Mariit Wemen and the Wedo


smaik

‘Oh, I have heard of that smaik,’ said the Scotch merchant, interrupting him; ‘it is he whom your principal, like an obstinate auld fule, wad make a merchant o', wad he or wad he no [...].’


aik

From Middle English ook, oke, aik, ake, from Old English āc (also as Old English ǣċ), from Proto-West Germanic *aik, from Proto-Germanic *aiks, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eyǵ- (“oak”).

Young Charlie Cochran was the sprout of an aik

And then he saw the cause, for Heriot was coming down in a furious flood, sixty yards wide, tearing at the roots of the aiks and flinging red waves against the drystone dykes.


aik

aik (third-person singular simple present aiks, present participle aikin, simple past aiked, past participle aiked)

aiks (present singular third-person)
aikin (participle present)
aiked (past)
aiked (participle past)


unforholden

unforholden (comparative mair unforholden, superlative maist unforholden)

mair unforholden (comparative)
maist unforholden (superlative)

From un- + forholden, from Middle English forholden (“to detain, retain”), from Old English forhealdan (“to forsake, fall away from, rebel against, let go, defile, pollute, withhold, misuse, abuse”). More at forhold.

der

1666, Culross

[...] and ordains the governours of the west quarter to begin, the northe next, and the east quarter last, and swa to continew ilk persone their tour about during the tyme that the said watching sall happen to remayne unforholden.
(please add an English translation of this quotation)

Not detained; uncancelled; not suspended.


kyloe

From Scottish Gaelic gaidhealach (“Gaelic, Highland”).

‘there's mony ane wad rather see him again at the tale o' three hundred kyloes, than at the head o' thirty waur cattle.’


fornent

Used in a singular sense, in relation to marriage: to.


flauchter

head

flauchter (third-person singular simple present flauchters, present participle flauchterin, simple past flauchtert, past participle flauchtert)

flauchters (present singular third-person)
flauchterin (participle present)
flauchtert (past)
flauchtert (participle past)


flaucht

flaucht (third-person singular simple present flauchts, present participle flauchtin, simple past flauchtt, past participle flauchtt)

flauchts (present singular third-person)
flauchtin (participle present)
flauchtt (past)
flauchtt (participle past)


flaucht

flaucht (comparative mair flaucht, superlative maist flaucht)

mair flaucht (comparative)
maist flaucht (superlative)


ruskie

Any utensil made of straw, such as a basket.


wuddy

And the wuddy has her ain, and we twa are left alane, / Free o' Carlisle gaol in the dawing.

1746, Andrew Lang, The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond

"Conscience! if I am na clean bumbaized,—you, ye cheat-the-wuddy rogue, you here on your venture in the tolbooth o' Glasgow? What d' ye think's the value o' your head?"

He had nae mair [honour] than ony auld jevel wha ever cheated the wuddy.

1836, John Mackay Wilson, “Historical, Traditionary, and Imaginative Tales of the Borders”, in Dictionary of the Scots Language, volume III, page 69

I'll sooner see them a' in wuddies, / An' twisted fast / Ere I shall make my puir auld Laddie / Sae draw his last!

(Can we date this quote?), Robert Kerr, My Father's Address to his Auld Dog Laddie


fause

fause (comparative mair fause, superlative maist fause)

mair fause (comparative)
maist fause (superlative)

From Middle English faus, from Old English fals.

She's fair and fause that causes my smart; / I lo'ed her meikle and lang; (Robert Burns, ‘She's Fair And Fause’)


lowe

From Middle English lowe, loghe, from Old Norse logi (“fire, flame, sword”), from Proto-Germanic *lugô (“flame, blaze”).

Is my brain no het aneugh, but ye maun set lowe to it, and burn it?

Alexander Leighton, ‘The House in Bell's Wynd’, Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland

An' by my ingle-lowe I saw, / Now bleezin' bright,

(please add an English translation of this quotation)


Adie

a diminutive of the male given name Aidam


wae

From Old English wā, wēa, from Proto-Germanic *wai, whence also Dutch wee, German Weh, weh, Danish ve, Yiddish וויי (vey). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *wai. Compare Latin vae, Albanian vaj, French ouais, Ancient Greek οὐαί (ouaí), Persian وای (vây) (Turkish vay, a Persian borrowing), and Armenian վայ (vay).

Wae is me!


ewest

ewest (comparative mair ewest, superlative maist ewest)

mair ewest (comparative)
maist ewest (superlative)

From a Middle English Scottish dialectal alteration of anewest, from Old English on nēawiste ("in the neighbourhood").


fu'

fu' (comparative mair fu', superlative maist fu')

mair fu' (comparative)
maist fu' (superlative)


dirl

A reverberation caused by a blow; a jolt.


dirl

dirl (third-person singular simple present dirls, present participle dirlin, simple past dirlt, past participle dirlt)

dirls (present singular third-person)
dirlin (participle present)
dirlt (past)
dirlt (participle past)

Conviction of sin held him like a vice: he saw the lassie's death laid at his door; her face haunted him by day and night, and the word of the Lord dirled in his ears, telling of wrath and punishment.

1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide


maukin

English: mawkin, maukin

Arrabella: Thou wilt get there before it be dark, if thou make good speed.

1836, Joanna Baillie, Witchcraft, act 1, page 13

Bawldry. No, though I had the speed o' a mawkin.
(please add an English translation of this quotation)


kyte-clung

For dinner, mutton-chop or steak,
An' yet, for a', I'm lean's a rake,

1888, James Nicholson, "The Dyspeptic to His Stomach", Wee Tibbie's Garland, James McGeachy & Co. (1888)

A 'natomy for folks to stare on.
(please add an English translation of this quotation)

(archaic) Having a sunken belly; starved.


kyte

To cleith his bak, and fill his wame,
Not sparing napir wyld, nor tame,
Could not content his emptie kyte,


fochten

fochten (comparative mair fochten, superlative maist fochten)

mair fochten (comparative)
maist fochten (superlative)


bucht

From Middle English bight, from Old English byht (“corner, bend”).


donnert

donnert (comparative mair donnert, superlative maist donnert)

mair donnert (comparative)
maist donnert (superlative)


donnert

simple past tense and past participle of donner


coggle

(archaic) Something which is unsteady or unbalanced.


coggle

coggle (third-person singular simple present coggles, present participle cogglein, simple past cogglet, past participle cogglet)

coggles (present singular third-person)
cogglein (participle present)
cogglet (past)
cogglet (participle past)


puggy

Alternative form of puggie (“slot machine”)


strecht

strecht (comparative strechter, superlative strechtest)

strechter (comparative)
strechtest (superlative)


strecht

simple past tense and past participle of streek


dirdum

From northern dialectal Middle English durdan/durdum, "uproar."


jouk

jouk (third-person singular simple present jouks, present participle joukin, simple past jouked, past participle jouked)

jouks (present singular third-person)
joukin (participle present)
jouked (past)
jouked (participle past)

Variant of deuk, from Middle English dūke or dukke. Compare Proto-Germanic *dūkaną (“to duck, dive”).

cog

(transitive or intransitive) to duck; to move away quickly to avoid (something); to evade

(transitive) to duck into water; to souse


jouk

Unknown. Perhaps from the “evade” sense of Etymology 1, above.

up yer jouk

jumper, jersey, pullover, sweater; (typically) of something hidden or carried under one's clothing


muchkin

(historical, obsolete) mutchkin; A liquid measure equal to four gills, or an imperial pint.


chirk

From Middle English cherkin, from Old English ċearcian, ċiercian, variant forms of Old English cracian, from Proto-West Germanic *krakōn, from Proto-Germanic *krakōną (“to crack; crackle; shriek”).
Cognate with English chirk. Doublet of chork, crak, crake, and jarg. The noun is derived from the verb.

der

(geology, North Northern Scots, Northern Isles) wet gravelly subsoil


chirk

head

chirk (third-person singular simple present chirks, present participle chirkin, simple past chirkit, past participle chirkit)

chirks (present singular third-person)
chirkin (participle present)
chirkit (past)
chirkit (participle past)

to gnash, rub together (of the teeth or gums)


newfangleness

From Middle English newfangelnesse, newfongilnes, from Old English *nīwefangelnes (compare Old English underfangelnes).

To weir all thing that sinne provoikis / And all for newfangilnes of geir.

newfangledness; the state of being newfangled


daur

At Hawick, where this legendary mimicry of old Border warfare peculiarly flourishes, the boys are accustomed to use the following rhyme of defiance: King Covenanter, come out if ye daur venture!

1870, Robert Chambers, Popular Rhymes of Scotland, page 128


brigg

A brigg ower Tweed you there may see.

1845, Alexander Whitelaw, The Book of Scottish Ballads Collected and Illustrated, page 475


champer

an implement for mashing or crushing etc.; a pestle


hething

From Middle English hething, from Old Norse hæðing (“a scoffing”), from háðung (“scorn, shame, disgrace”).


warkand

warkand (comparative mair warkand, superlative maist warkand)

mair warkand (comparative)
maist warkand (superlative)

From Middle English warkande, werkande, warchond, present participle of warken, werken, warchen (“to pain”), from Old English wærcan (“to be in pain”), from wærc, wræc (“pain, suffering, anguish”) (English wark).


hempy

hempy (comparative mair hempy, superlative maist hempy)

mair hempy (comparative)
maist hempy (superlative)


-le

From Middle English -el, -le, from Old English -el, -ol (adjective suffix), from Proto-Germanic *-ulaz (adjective suffix).

inh

used for forming adjectives signifying 'having a tendency to' or 'able to'; e.g. forgettle, smittle, fodgle


-le

a contracted form of full; e.g. cairtle (“cartful, cart-load”), cogle (“bowlful”)


-le

From Middle English -elen, -len, -lien, from Old English -lian (frequentative verbal suffix), from Proto-Germanic *-lōną (frequentative verbal suffix).

frequentative or diminutive suffix, added to verbs

forms adverbs implying direction towards


Hendry

a male given name, equivalent to English Henry


bouin

From bou (“stock or herd of cattle; farmhouse, village”).


fremed

head

fremed (comparative mair fremed, superlative maist fremed)

mair fremed (comparative)
maist fremed (superlative)


donnard

donnard (comparative mair donnard, superlative maist donnard)

mair donnard (comparative)
maist donnard (superlative)


donnered

donnered (comparative mair donnered, superlative maist donnered)

mair donnered (comparative)
maist donnered (superlative)

Had I been i' my clear senses, I wad hae been rale puzzled about the maitter, but I was donnered wi' the drifts and the weariness, and thocht only o' getting by 't.

1899, John Buchan, “The Oasis in the Snow”, in Grey Weather: Moorland Tales of My Own People, John Lane, page 188


gypit

simple past tense and past participle of gype


gypit

gypit (comparative mair gypit, superlative maist gypit)

mair gypit (comparative)
maist gypit (superlative)


gype

tae gype (third-person singular simple present gypes, present participle gypin, simple past gypit, past participle gypit)

tae gype (canonical)
gypes (present singular third-person)
gypin (participle present)
gypit (past)
gypit (participle past)

to stare in a foolish, open-mouthed fashion

to play the fool, make a fool of someone


gype

foolish, awkward person, silly ass, lout


gype

gype (comparative mair gype, superlative maist gype)

mair gype (comparative)
maist gype (superlative)


fendie

English: fendy


ithergates

English: ithergates


menseless

unmannerly, ill-bred, stupid, foolish, greedy, grasping


yeld

yeld (comparative mair yeld, superlative maist yeld)

mair yeld (comparative)
maist yeld (superlative)

English: yell

From Middle English yeld, from Old English ġelde (“barren, unproductive”), probably borrowed from Old Norse geldr (“barren, yielding no milk”), from Proto-Germanic *galdaz, *galdijaz (“barren, unfruitful”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʰel- (“to shout, cry”). Related to Swedish gall (“barren”), German galt, gelt (“yielding no milk, unfruitful”), Old Norse gelda (“to castrate”).

der

not fertile, unproductive, ineffectual, lacking in substance or value, unprofitable (of inanimate things)


yeld

head

yeld (third-person singular simple present yelds, present participle yeldin, simple past yeldt, past participle yeldt)

yelds (present singular third-person)
yeldin (participle present)
yeldt (past)
yeldt (participle past)

to cease to milk a pregnant cow when the flow stops before calving


ablach

Akin to Old Irish ablach (“carcass, corpse, carrion”).

cog

A body not necessarily dead but maimed or reduced to a pitiable condition.

An insignificant or contemptible person through lack of size or defect of will or intellect.

An object defective through lack of size.


hamelt

head

hamelt (comparative mair hamelt, superlative maist hamelt)

mair hamelt (comparative)
maist hamelt (superlative)

belonging to home, domestic, internal, made or grown at home or native to one's country

vernacular, in the native tongue (of speech)

homely, familiar, plain, unaffected, simple


hame-comin

the festivities on a bride's arrival in her new home


firren

firren (comparative mair firren, superlative maist firren)

mair firren (comparative)
maist firren (superlative)


hame-drauchtit

hame-drauchtit (comparative mair hame-drauchtit, superlative maist hame-drauchtit)

mair hame-drauchtit (comparative)
maist hame-drauchtit (superlative)


hamle

hamle (comparative mair hamle, superlative maist hamle)

mair hamle (comparative)
maist hamle (superlative)


birses

third-person singular simple present indicative form of birse


birse

birse (third-person singular simple present birses, present participle birsin, simple past birsed, past participle birsed)

birses (present singular third-person)
birsin (participle present)
birsed (past)
birsed (participle past)

birsie

bristly, hairy; hot-tempered, passionate; of the weather: keen, sharp; difficult


whaul

From Middle English whale, from Old English hwæl, from Proto-Germanic *hwalaz.


oul

oul (third-person singular simple present ouls, present participle oulin, simple past oult, past participle oult)

ouls (present singular third-person)
oulin (participle present)
oult (past)
oult (participle past)


bink

From Middle English benk, from Old English benċ, from Proto-West Germanic *banki, from Proto-Germanic *bankiz. Cognate with English bench.


disadvise

disadvise (third-person singular simple present disadvises, present participle disadvisin, simple past disadvised, past participle disadvised)

disadvises (present singular third-person)
disadvisin (participle present)
disadvised (past)
disadvised (participle past)


eild

From Early Scots ȝeild, from Old English ʒelde.

(archaic) Barren or no longer producing milk (of a female mammal, especially a domestic animal).


eild

(archaic) An animal which is barren or no longer producing milk.

(archaic) Cattle specifically raised for slaughter.


amang

From Middle English among, from Old English onġemang.


birken

birk + -en.
From Middle English birken, birchen, from Old English bircen, *biercen, beorcen (“made of birch, birchen”), from Proto-Germanic *birkīnaz (“made of birch”). Cognate with English birchen, Dutch berken, Low German berken, German birken.

inh

O weary Winter soon will pass, / And Spring will cleed the birken shaw;

1788, Robert Burns, The Bonie Lad That's Far Awa

O weary Winter soon will pass, / And Spring will clothe the birch grove;

Made of, consisting of, pertaining to birch; birchen.


Wadensday

From Middle English Wednesday, Wednesdai, Wodnesdei, from Old English wōdnesdæġ (“Wednesday”), from Proto-West Germanic *Wōdanas dag, a calque (interpretātiō germānica) of Latin diēs Mercuriī (“day of Mercury”).


thrashel

From Middle Scots thraschell, thresschell, threschald, from Middle English threschwolde, threscholde, from Old English þresċold, þerxold, þrexwold (“doorsill, entryway”), from Proto-Germanic *þreskudlaz, *þreskūþlijaz, *þreskwaþluz, from Proto-Germanic *þreskaną, *þreskwaną (“to thresh”), from Proto-Indo-European *terh₁- (“to rub, turn”). Cognate with English threshold, Swedish tröskel, Norwegian terskel.


umbedo

head

umbedo (third-person singular simple present umbedois, present participle undoand or undoin, simple past undid, past participle undone)

umbedois (present singular third-person)
undoand (participle present)
undoin (participle present)
undid (past)
undone (participle past)

From umbe- + do, modelled after undo and umbeset.

(transitive) To undo; bring to ruin; fordo.


jiz

Robert Burns
And auld John Trot wi' sober phiz,
As braid and braw 's a Bailie,
His shouthers and his Sunday's jiz
Wi' powther and wi' ulzie
Weel smear'd that day.


Adamite

A follower or supporter of William Adams, minister at Humbie.


benty

benty (comparative mair benty, superlative maist benty)

mair benty (comparative)
maist benty (superlative)


clanjamfrie

Mars is braw in crammasy,
Venus in a green silk goun,
The auld mune shaks her gowden feathers,
Their starry talk’s a wheen o blethers,
Nane for thee a thochtie sparin,
Earth, thou bonnie broukit bairn.

1925, Hugh MacDiarmid, The Bonnie Broukit Bairn

The hail clanjamfrie!.
(please add an English translation of this quotation)

- But greet, an in your tears ye’ll droun


siccar

siccar (comparative mair siccar, superlative maist siccar)

mair siccar (comparative)
maist siccar (superlative)


platel

Apparently borrowed in the Middle English period from Old French platel (mentioned in the Nominale sive verbale c. 1350: "Platel, saucer de tilier; Dobler, saucer of lynde"; first attested in Old French in the 13th century).


intermell

And syne or that intermell wes done, / The greit battell on euerie syd did jone, / With sic ane reird quhill all the rochis rang, / So thrafullie togidder that tha thrang.

1535, William Stewart, The Buik of the croniclis of Scotland

(obsolete) a battle fought in close combat


mandment

our werray full plane power and speciale mandment for ws

1544 (published 1844), Extracts from the Council Register of the Burgh of Aberdeen


froed

Hit wharves da waar an sturs da saand / An' lays da froed up owre da laand

1898, James Stout Angus, Echoes from Klingrahool


froed

froed (third-person singular simple present froeds, present participle froedin, simple past froedt, past participle froedt)

froeds (present singular third-person)
froedin (participle present)
froedt (past)
froedt (participle past)


spaeman

spae (“to prophesy, foretell, predict, tell fortunes”) + man


stey

head

stey (comparative steyer, superlative steyest)

steyer (comparative)
steyest (superlative)

(dated) steep (of an ascent or a geographical feature)


stey

stey (third-person singular simple present steys, present participle steyin, simple past steyd, past participle steyd)

steys (present singular third-person)
steyin (participle present)
steyd (past)
steyd (participle past)


blume

From Middle English blomen, from blom, from Old Norse blóm, from Proto-Germanic *blōmô.

The Banks O' Doon--Second Version Ye flowery banks o' bonie Doon, How can ye blume sae fair?

1780, Robert Burns, Poems And Songs Of Robert Burns


heivenly

heivenly (comparative heivenlier or mair heivenly, superlative heivenliest or maist heivenly)

heivenlier (comparative)
mair heivenly (comparative)
heivenliest (superlative)
maist heivenly (superlative)

Inherited from Middle English hevenely, from Old English heofonlīċ; by surface analysis, heiven + ly.


heiven

Inherited from Northern Middle English heven (also hevene in Southern ME), from Old English heofon, from Proto-West Germanic *hebun.


daunton

head

daunton (third-person singular simple present dauntons, present participle dauntonin, simple past dauntont, past participle dauntont)

dauntons (present singular third-person)
dauntonin (participle present)
dauntont (past)
dauntont (participle past)

The First Instance That Entitled Him To The Venerable Appellation Of Father Thou's welcome, wean; mishanter fa' me, If thoughts o' thee, or yet thy mamie, Shall ever daunton me or awe me, My bonie lady, Or if I blush when thou shalt ca' me Tyta or daddie.

I 'm wand'ring wide this wintry night, I 'm wand'ring wide my lane, And mony a langsome, lanesome mile, I 'll measure e'er it 's gane; But lanesome roads or langsome miles, Can never daunton me, When I think on the welcome warm That waits me, love, frae thee.

1857, Various, The Modern Scottish Minstrel, Volume V.

Bonny, bairnly braws; it's for the like o' them folk sells the peace of God that passeth understanding; it's for the like o' them, an' maybe no even sae muckle worth, folk daunton God to His face and burn in muckle hell; and it's for that reason the Scripture ca's them, as I read the passage, the accursed thing.

1904, Robert Louis Stevenson, The Merry Men

"Och, it's the lassies will be the pleased ones, coiling the blankets round them; it's Auld Kate that kens," and then she gave a screitchy hooch and began to sing in her cracked thin voice-- 'The man's no' born and he never will be, The man's no born that will daunton me.'


gainyield

From gain- (“again; back; in return”) + yield. Compare Danish gengæld, Middle English gayn-ȝelden (“to repay”), Swedish gengälda (“to repay”).


hiddle

From Early Scots hidlis (“hiding places”), from hiddil (“concealment”), from Middle English hidels.


hiddle

head

hiddle (comparative mair hiddle, superlative maist hiddle)

mair hiddle (comparative)
maist hiddle (superlative)


hiddle

hiddle (third-person singular simple present hiddles, present participle hiddlin, simple past hiddlet, past participle hiddlet)

hiddles (present singular third-person)
hiddlin (participle present)
hiddlet (past)
hiddlet (participle past)


thingmy

(informal) A thingy; a non-specific object or gadget.


shilpit

shilpit (comparative mair shilpit, superlative maist shilpit)

mair shilpit (comparative)
maist shilpit (superlative)

[…] he turned from Willie with a faint sting of aversion. Always having miscarriages. A shilpit wife who made a shilpit drink.

"of a sickly white appearance" (An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language, John Jamieson, University Press for W. & C. Tait, 1825)


shilpit

"a person trembling always" (An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language, John Jamieson, University Press for W. & C. Tait, 1825)


threty

From Middle English thretty, thritti, from Old English þritiġ (“thirty”). More at thirty.


taigle

taigle (third-person singular simple present taigles, present participle taiglin, simple past taiglt, past participle taiglt)

taigles (present singular third-person)
taiglin (participle present)
taiglt (past)
taiglt (participle past)

From Middle English tagilen, probably of North Germanic origin, from Old Norse þǫngull, þang (“tangle; seaweed”); compare dialectal Swedish taggla.

I wud abeen here in time, but I gaed roon tae speer hoo Mary Swan's son was, an' I was taiglt.

1876, David Gilmour, Paisley Weavers of Other Days

And syne it's like a wab in which the warld / Squats like a spider, quhile the mune and me / Are taigled in an endless corner o't / Tyauvin' fecklessly...

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

Aa this while the fowk wis waitin on Zacharie, ferliein what coud be taiglin him sae lang intil the sanctuarie [...].

1983, William Laughton Lorimer, trans. Bible, Luke I


birstle

birstle (third-person singular simple present birstles, present participle birslin, simple past birslet, past participle birslet)

birstles (present singular third-person)
birslin (participle present)
birslet (past)
birslet (participle past)


buckie

Uncertain; perhaps compare Latin buccinum (“whelk”).


ennet

Alternative form of annet (“eider-duck”)


glunch

glunch (comparative mair glunch, superlative maist glunch)

mair glunch (comparative)
maist glunch (superlative)

"But what's the use o' looking sae glum and glunch about a pickle banes?

1816, Sir Walter Scott, The Antiquary, Volume 1


glunch

May gravels round his blather wrench, An' gouts torment him, inch by inch, What twists his gruntle wi' a glunch O' sour disdain, Out owre a glass o' whisky-punch Wi' honest men!

A sullen, angry look; a look of disdain or dislike.


glunch

The fiend had bare departed when Ailie came over the threshold to find the auld carline glunching over the fire.

1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide


trokins

The wuman answert, "What! A Jew like ye seekin a drink o a Samâritan like mysel?" The Jews hes nae trokins wi the Samâritans.

1983, William L. Lorimer, The New Testament in Scots, Canongate Books, published 2001, page 164


rickle o' banes

rickle o' banes (plural rickles o' banes)

"Guid sake! lassie, what an airm ye hev, deed ye're jist a rickle o' banes a' the gither, they haena gien ye yer meat doon at Balhelvie; aye, I kent brawly what it would be."

1896, Maggie Swan, For the Sake o' the Siller, Oliphant, Anderson & Ferrier, page 66


rickle

1831, Sir Walter Scott, The Antiquary, Baudry's Foreign Library (1831), page 109

Rab Tull keepit a highland heart, and bang'd out o' bed, and till some of his readiest claes — and he did follow the thing up stairs and down stairs to the place we ca' the high dow-cot, (a sort of little tower in the corner of the auld house, where there was a rickle o' useless boxes and trunks,) and there the ghaist gae Rab a kick wi' the tae foot, […]
(please add an English translation of this quotation)

"Na, 'deed, Alisoun Begbie," cried Mistress Crombie once more, from the check of the door, "believe me when I tell ye that sic a braw city madam — and a widow forbye — doesna bide about an auld disjaskit rickle o' stanes like the Hoose o' the Grenoch withoot haeing mair in her head than just sending warnings to Clavers aboot the puir muirland folk, […]

1898, S. R. Crockett, Lochinvar, Harper & Brothers Publishers, page 2

Thou kicks thy rickle o' a cart

1863, David Wingate, “Address to an Ass”, in Poems and Songs, William Blackwood and Sons, page 92

Wi' angry heels.
(please add an English translation of this quotation)

A rickle (any object in poor condition).


ither

From Middle English ōþer, from Old English ōþer.

Is't cruel to dowgs, to feed fifty or sixty o' them on crackers and ither sorts o' food, in a kennel like a Christian house, wi' a clear burn flowin' through 't, and to gie them, twice a-week or aftener, during the season, a brattlin rin o' thretty miles after a fox?

He would have four times as much as he had charged in the first instance, or "he'd tak us over, and land us on the ither side of the bay."

AULD SCOTIA'S SANGS. Although the lays o' ither lands Ha'e mony an artfu' air, They want the stirrin' melody An auld man lo'es to hear.

1857, Various, The Modern Scottish Minstrel, Volume VI

"An' may they never learn the gaets, Of ither vile, wanrestfu' pets-- To slink thro' slaps, an' reave an' steal At stacks o' pease, or stocks o' kail!


ither

And then she changed her voice and would be as saft as honey: 'My puir wee Ailie, was I thrawn till ye? Never mind, my bonnie. You and me are a' that's left, and we maunna be ill to ither.'
[…]

The noise of the Heriot had not long fallen behind him ere another began, the same eerie sound of burns crying to ither in the darkness. It seemed that the whole earth was overrun with waters.
(please add an English translation of this quotation)


bightsome

bightsome (comparative mair bightsome, superlative maist bightsome)

mair bightsome (comparative)
maist bightsome (superlative)

From bight + -some, or alteration of Middle English buhsum (“obedient, flexible”), from Old English *būhsum (“bendable, flexible, pliant, obedient”). Compare also Dutch buigzaam (“flexible, pliant”), German biegsam (“flexible, pliant”). See also buxom.

der

Lively, louch, atweesh, atween, / Auchimuty or aspate, / Threidiri through the averins / Or bightsome in the aftergait.

1958, David Daiches, The present age in British literature

Lively, dull, betwixt, between, / Paltry or in flood, / Completely dry through the heather-stems / Or buoyant through the outflow.

Having an air of ease combined with activity; easy; light; active.


snaip

head

snaip (third-person singular simple present snaips, present participle snaipin, simple past snaipt, past participle snaipt)

snaips (present singular third-person)
snaipin (participle present)
snaipt (past)
snaipt (participle past)


minnie

One boy, on coming late, explained that the cause had been a regular pitched battle between his parents, with the details of which he amused his school-fellows; and he described the battle in vivid and Scottish Homeric terms: "And eh, as they faucht, and they faucht," adding, however, with much complacency, "but my minnie dang, she did tho'."

1874, Edward Bannerman Ramsay, Reminiscences of Scottish Life and Character

"There's naething left in the fair Dodhead, But a greeting wife and bairnies three, And sax poor ca's[134] stand in the sta', A' routing loud for their minnie."

1806, Walter Scott, Minstrelsy of the Scottish border (3rd ed) (1 of 3)

When first I gaed to woo my Jenny, Ye then was trotting wi' your minnie: Tho' ye was trickie, slee, an' funnie, Ye ne'er was donsie; But hamely, tawie, quiet, an' cannie, An' unco sonsie.


besmarten

besmarten (third-person singular simple present besmartens, present participle besmartenin, simple past besmartent, past participle besmartent)

besmartens (present singular third-person)
besmartenin (participle present)
besmartent (past)
besmartent (participle past)

(transitive) To make smart (dapper); neaten


abeigh

Probably from a- (“in a state or condition”) + Old Norse beigr, beygr (“fear”).

The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles

Oxford University Press
w:Oxford University Press


breer

breer (third-person singular simple present breers, present participle breerin, simple past breert, past participle breert)

breers (present singular third-person)
breerin (participle present)
breert (past)
breert (participle past)


daimen

daimen (comparative mair daimen, superlative maist daimen)

mair daimen (comparative)
maist daimen (superlative)


à la volée

Borrowed from French à la volée (“on the fly”).


brakfast

brak (“break”) + fast; compare English breakfast


brakfast

brakfast (third-person singular simple present brakfasts, present participle brakfastin, simple past brakfastit, past participle brakfastit)

brakfasts (present singular third-person)
brakfastin (participle present)
brakfastit (past)
brakfastit (participle past)


adventur

From Middle English aventure, aunter, anter, from Old French aventure, from Late Latin adventūrus (“adventure”).


adventur

adventur (third-person singular simple present adventurs, present participle adventurin, simple past adventurt, past participle adventurt)

adventurs (present singular third-person)
adventurin (participle present)
adventurt (past)
adventurt (participle past)


disjune

disjune (third-person singular simple present disjunes, present participle disjunin, simple past disjunit, past participle disjunit)

disjunes (present singular third-person)
disjunin (participle present)
disjunit (past)
disjunit (participle past)


caur

Borrowed from Scottish Gaelic ceàrr (“wrong, incorrect, immoral, astray; left”), from Old Irish cerr (“crooked, wry, maimed”).


caur

From Middle English carre, from Anglo-Norman carre, from Latin carra, neuter plural of carrus (“four-wheeled baggage wagon”).


frait

head

frait (third-person singular simple present fraits, present participle fraitin, simple past fraitit, past participle fraitit)

fraits (present singular third-person)
fraitin (participle present)
fraitit (past)
fraitit (participle past)


ill-speak

ill-speak (third-person singular simple present ill-speaks, present participle ill-speakin, simple past ill-spak, past participle ill-spoken)

ill-speaks (present singular third-person)
ill-speakin (participle present)
ill-spak (past)
ill-spoken (participle past)


speak a wird tae

speak a wird tae (third-person singular simple present speaks a wird tae, present participle speakin a wird tae, simple past spak a wird tae, past participle spoken a wird tae)

speaks a wird tae (present singular third-person)
speakin a wird tae (participle present)
spak a wird tae (past)
spoken a wird tae (participle past)


speak back

speak back (third-person singular simple present speaks back, present participle speakin back, simple past spak back, past participle spoken back)

speaks back (present singular third-person)
speakin back (participle present)
spak back (past)
spoken back (participle past)


ill-speakin

ill-speakin (comparative mair ill-speakin, superlative maist ill-speakin)

mair ill-speakin (comparative)
maist ill-speakin (superlative)


fair-spoken

fair-spoken (comparative mair fair-spoken, superlative maist fair-spoken)

mair fair-spoken (comparative)
maist fair-spoken (superlative)


ensenyie

From Old French enseigne, from Latin insignia, nominative plural of īnsigne, meaning marked, distinguished.


clishmaclaver

A curse on dull and drawlin' Whig, the whinin' rantin' low deceiver, wi' heart sae black and look sae big, and cantin' tongue o' clishmaclaver.


Tam

a diminutive of the male given name Thomas


beguess

beguess (comparative mair beguess, superlative maist beguess)

mair beguess (comparative)
maist beguess (superlative)


collieshangie

The carline skirled till ye could hear her at the Hangin' Shaw, and she focht like ten; there was mony a guidwife bure the mark of her neist dat an' mony a lang day after; and just in the hettest o' the collieshangie, wha suld come up (for her sins) but the new minister.

1887, Robert Louis Stephenson, The Merry Men and Other Tales and Fables

As my Old Grannie would have put it, "It taks twa dugs tae hae a collieshangie", and it is rather stupid of Westminster to claim these fall-outs are all one sided.

2008 March 4, Robert Peffers, “Re: It isnae fair.......”, in scot.politics (Usenet)


collie-shangie

/ˈkɒliˌʃɑŋi/

From collie (“a breed of dog”), and shangie (“an object tied to a dog's tail”). The frustration of having a shangie attached made the highly-energetic collies irritable and likely to fight.

This mony a day I've grain'd and gaunted,

1790, Robert Burns, Lines to a Gentleman

To ken what French mischief was brewin;
Or what the drumlie Dutch were doin;
That vile doup-skelper, Emperor Joseph,
If Venus yet had got his nose off;
Or how the collieshangie works
Atween the Russians and the Turks,
(please add an English translation of this quotation)

Water's an awfu' thing to rot ye'r boots; I aye said if it rotted ane's boots that way, whit wad it no' dae to ane's stamach? Oh, sirs! sirs! this is becomin' the throng hoose, wi' comin's and goin's and raps and roars and collie-shangies o' a' kin's.

Oo luik tae ither daeins, like nae gaun oan in yon menseless wey ye aa aye dae, cryin doon wur hameland an wur weys. Haudin a collie-shangie in by wi's isna gaun tae mak ye ony freens.

2004 July 10, Michil, “Re: Aljazeera says "THANKS CANADA!'”, in soc.culture.scottish (Usenet)


browden

From Middle English brouden (“braided”), past participle of breiden.

His body was with blood a' browden, He grain'd like ' ony ghaist;

1780, Allan Ramsay, Poems on Several Occasions - Volume 1, page 64

His body was with blood all covered, He groaned like any ghost;

Thair best and browden bricht baneris And hors hewit on seir maneiris

1946, Agnes Mure Mackenzie, Scottish Pageant: 55 B.C.-A.D. 1513, page 155

The millart never notic'd Tam, Sae browden'd he the ba', He rumblid rudely like a ram, Dang o'er whiles ane, whiles twa:

1987, Priscilla J. Bawcutt, Felicity Riddy, Thomas Crawford, Longer Scottish Poems: 1650-1830, page 111

As scho delyts into the low, Sae was I browdin of my bow, Als ignorant as scho.

1597, Alexander Montgomery, The Cherrie and the Slae


derf

derf (comparative mair derf, superlative maist derf)

mair derf (comparative)
maist derf (superlative)

From Middle English derf (“bold, daring, strong”), from Old English dearf, deorf (“bold”), from Proto-Germanic *derbaz. Cognate with Danish djærv (“bold”), Faroese djarvur (“bold”), Icelandic djarfur (“bold”), Norwegian djerv (“bold”), Swedish djärv (“bold”).


feuchten

(Southern Scots) past participle of fecht


feuchten

head

feuchten (comparative mair feuchten, superlative maist feuchten)

mair feuchten (comparative)
maist feuchten (superlative)


Hutton

From Early Scots Hutoun, ultimately from Old English hōh-tūn (“farm on a hill”).


cleck

cleck (third-person singular simple present clecks, present participle cleckin, simple past cleckit, past participle cleckit)

clecks (present singular third-person)
cleckin (participle present)
cleckit (past)
cleckit (participle past)


claik

From Old Norse klaka, from or related to Proto-Germanic *klukkwōną (“to cluck”).


buirdly

buirdly (comparative mair buirdly, superlative maist buirdly)

mair buirdly (comparative)
maist buirdly (superlative)

Earlier buirly, of uncertain origin. Possibly from Middle English burely, but that itself is of unknown origin.


antrin

antrin (comparative mair antrin, superlative maist antrin)

mair antrin (comparative)
maist antrin (superlative)


chalder

From Norn chaldro, from Old Norse tjaldr. Cognate to Icelandic tjaldur m and Faroese tjaldur n.

Haematopus ostralegus
Haematopus ostralegus#Translingual

(Northern Isles) oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)


prettikin

From Old Norse prettr (“a trick”), from Proto-Germanic *prattuz (“boastful speech; trickery, deceit”). More at prat.


capernoity

head

capernoity (comparative mair capernoity, superlative maist capernoity)

mair capernoity (comparative)
maist capernoity (superlative)


farrand

behaved; (as "well-farrand") well-behaved

(as "auld-farrand") wise; sagacious; well-informed


starn

From Middle English steorrne, sterrne, sterne, starne, from Old Norse stjarna, from Proto-Germanic *sternǭ (“star”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂stḗr (“star”).


first-fit

first-fit (third-person singular simple present first-fits, present participle first-fittin, simple past first-fittit, past participle first-fittit)

first-fits (present singular third-person)
first-fittin (participle present)
first-fittit (past)
first-fittit (participle past)

to be the first to visit at the new year


grusht

simple past tense and past participle of grush


frood

Shü set da kit wi' sic flürrie apo' da flüer 'at da frood cam' oot aboot da lugs.


frood

frood (third-person singular simple present froods, present participle froodin, simple past froodt, past participle froodt)

froods (present singular third-person)
froodin (participle present)
froodt (past)
froodt (participle past)


nochtie

nochtie (comparative mair nochtie, superlative maist nochtie)

mair nochtie (comparative)
maist nochtie (superlative)


loz

From Middle English losse, from Old English lox, from Proto-West Germanic *luhs, from Proto-Germanic *luhsaz. Cognate with English los, Saterland Frisian Luks, Low German Luks, Dutch los, German Luchs, Luxembourgish Luuss.


steelbou

steel + bou (“stock or herd of cattle; farmhouse, village”)

compound

(law) steelbow, a land-tenancy whereby a the stock, equipment and grain etc. provided by a landlord should be returned in equivalent quantity at the end of the lease


trottle-caur

(Ulster, agriculture) a low vehicle for moving hay


troddle

head

troddle (third-person singular simple present troddles, present participle troddlin, simple past troddelt, past participle troddelt)

troddles (present singular third-person)
troddlin (participle present)
troddelt (past)
troddelt (participle past)


trottle

trottle (third-person singular simple present trottles, present participle trottlin, simple past trottelt, past participle trottelt)

trottles (present singular third-person)
trottlin (participle present)
trottelt (past)
trottelt (participle past)


enculȝe

Quhen he saw he sped nathing for his enculȝe or entysing.

c. 1390, “St Thecla”, in William Musham Metcalfe, editor, Legends of the saints: in the Scottish dialect of the fourteenth century, published 1896


fechtie

fechtie (comparative mair fechtie, superlative maist fechtie)

mair fechtie (comparative)
maist fechtie (superlative)


bonnie fechter

fearless fighter, zealot, disputatious person


fechter

From Middle English feghter, from Old English feohtere, equivalent to fecht + -er.

bonnie fechter

fearless fighter, zealot, disputatious person


haly

haly (comparative halier, superlative haliest)

halier (comparative)
haliest (superlative)

From Middle English hali, holi, from Old English hāliġ, hāleġ (“holy, consecrated, sacred, venerated, godly, saintly, ecclesiastical, pacific, tame”), from Proto-Germanic *hailagaz (“holy, bringing health”), from *hailaz (“healthy, whole”), from Proto-Indo-European *kéh₂ilos (“healthy, whole”).

der

uphaly nicht

the evening of the Epiphany, twelfth-night


douk

head

douk (third-person singular simple present douks, present participle doukin, simple past doukt, past participle doukt)

douks (present singular third-person)
doukin (participle present)
doukt (past)
doukt (participle past)


langsome

langsome (comparative mair langsome, superlative maist langsome)

mair langsome (comparative)
maist langsome (superlative)

From Middle English longsom, longsum, langsum, from Old English langsum, from Proto-West Germanic *langasam. Equivalent to lang + -some.


aiger

aiger (comparative mair aiger, superlative maist aiger)

mair aiger (comparative)
maist aiger (superlative)


smuith

smuith (comparative mair smuith, superlative maist smuith)

mair smuith (comparative)
maist smuith (superlative)

From Middle English smooth, smoth, from Old English smōþ (“smooth”).


aswaip

aswaip (comparative mair aswaip, superlative maist aswaip)

mair aswaip (comparative)
maist aswaip (superlative)


arl

arl (third-person singular simple present arls, present participle arlin, simple past arlt, past participle arlt)

arls (present singular third-person)
arlin (participle present)
arlt (past)
arlt (participle past)

(archaic) To engage services through payment of earnest-money.


athraw

athraw (comparative mair athraw, superlative maist athraw)

mair athraw (comparative)
maist athraw (superlative)


ballion

(archaic) A box or knapsack, especially one used by a tinker.


elbuck

From Early Scots elbok, from Middle English elbohe, from Old English elboga, elnboga, from Proto-Germanic *alinabugô.


battock

From bat (“a holm or river island”) + -ock.

(archaic) A piece of land between two streams or branches of a stream.

(archaic) A small tuft of grass surrounded by water.


big-luggit

big-luggit (comparative mair big-luggit, superlative maist big-luggit)

mair big-luggit (comparative)
maist big-luggit (superlative)

/ˈbɪɡ-lʌɡɪt/

/ˈbɪɡ-lʌɡəi/


banie

banie (comparative banier, superlative baniest)

banier (comparative)
baniest (superlative)


near the bane

near the bane (comparative nearer the bane, superlative nearest the bane)

nearer the bane (comparative)
nearest the bane (superlative)


hausebane

hause (“neck, throat, gullet”) + bane (“bone”)


dirlie-bane

dirl (“cause to tingle with emotion or pain”) + bane (“bone”)


breests

third-person singular simple present indicative form of breest


hurklin

head

hurklin (comparative mair hurklin, superlative maist hurklin)

mair hurklin (comparative)
maist hurklin (superlative)


hurkles

third-person singular simple present indicative form of hurkle


marrae

From Old English mearg, from Proto-Germanic *mazgą, *mazgaz, from Proto-Indo-European *mozgos.


breest

From Middle English brest, from Old English brēost, from Proto-West Germanic *breust, from Proto-Germanic *breustą, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰrews- (“to swell”).

der

the front or projecting part of anything

the cobbled slipway forming the front of a harbour


breest

head

breest (third-person singular simple present breests, present participle breestin, simple past breestit, past participle breestit)

breests (present singular third-person)
breestin (participle present)
breestit (past)
breestit (participle past)

to mount a horse by gripping the mane and wriggling over


rumple-bane

rumple (“rump, tail, haunches, buttocks, seat”) + bane (“bone”)


spaul

From Middle English spawde, spaude, spalde, from Old French espalde (French épaule), from Latin spatula.

(geography) rounded projecting piece of ground, bank

joint, shoulder, leg; wing or leg of a fowl; the cut of beef from the shoulder, shoulder steak (of a carcass)


spaul-bane

spaul (“limb, shoulder”) + bane (“bone”)


blainy

head

blainy (comparative mair blainy, superlative maist blainy)

mair blainy (comparative)
maist blainy (superlative)

Patchy; covered with bare spots; filled with holes.


birkenshaw

/ˈbɛrkənʃɑː/

/ˈbʌrkənʃɔː/

/ˈbɪrkənʃɒː/


blackneb

(derogatory, Hawick dialect, archaic, c. 1800) A closet revolutionary; a person opposed to the British Empire; a proponent of equality, especially involving the redistribution of property. A socialist.


blaver

Centaurea cyanus
Centaurea cyanus#Translingual

bluebell in Scots, harebell in English (Campanula rotundifolia). See blawort.


blash

(onomatopoeia) A splash of liquid or semi-liquid.

(meteorological) Hard rainfall, sleet, or hail.


blash

(meteorological) (Of rain, sleet, hail): To pour heavily, to batter against something.


ochone

Oh I am come to the low countrie, ochone, ochone, ochrie. Without a penny in my purse. Tae buy a meal tae me.


bluid-tongue

Galium aparine
Galium aparine#Translingual

Goosegrass or cleavers (Galium aparine).


blouster

Angus, Southern Mid Scots, Southern Scots

Disputed. Blouster suggests a connection with English bluster, which Skeat says is doubtless associated in idea with blast, compare Old Norse blāstr (“blast, breath, swelling”). According to Bense, forms bluist and bluister are of Low German origins. The diphthong /ou/ may be due to the word blout with its kindred meanings


blouster

head

blouster (third-person singular simple present blousters, present participle blousterin, simple past bloustert, past participle bloustert)

blousters (present singular third-person)
blousterin (participle present)
bloustert (past)
bloustert (participle past)


curfuffle

curfuffle (third-person singular simple present curfuffles, present participle curfufflin, simple past curfufflt, past participle curfufflt)

curfuffles (present singular third-person)
curfufflin (participle present)
curfufflt (past)
curfufflt (participle past)


bowat

From Middle English bowett, from medieval Latin boeta.


bowsome

bowsome (comparative mair bowsome, superlative maist bowsome)

mair bowsome (comparative)
maist bowsome (superlative)

⇒ English: unbowsome

From Early Scots bowsum (“obedient, compliant”) (circa 1375), from Northern Middle English buȝsom, from early Middle English buhsum (cf. buxom), from Old English būgan (“to bend”), from Proto-Germanic *beuganą, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰūgʰ- (“to bend”). Equivalent to bow + -some.

der

(archaic) Characterised or marked by bowing or obedience; (by extension) compliant; willing.


haivers

third-person singular simple present indicative form of haiver


havermeal

haver (“oats”) + meal (compare Icelandic haframjöl, Swedish havremjöl)


haiverel

haiver (“to haver, talk in a foolish or trivial manner, speak nonsense”) + -el


haiver

head

haiver (third-person singular simple present haivers, present participle haiverin, simple past haivert, past participle haivert)

haivers (present singular third-person)
haiverin (participle present)
haivert (past)
haivert (participle past)

English: haver

Uli stuck his oar in an' said ah wis right an' Marta shid stop haverin [translating liire], that there wis women oot there who wur aye oan the look-oot furra guy who wis as fuckt-up as poss so they kid look eftir him.

2013, Pedro Lenz, translated by Donal McLaughlin, Naw Much of a Talker, Freight Books, page 37

to haver, talk in a foolish or trivial manner, speak nonsense


donsy

donsy (comparative mair donsy, superlative maist donsy)

mair donsy (comparative)
maist donsy (superlative)


donsie

1787, Robert Burns, 'Address to the Unco Guid'
Their donsie tricks, their black mistakes, / Their failings and mischances.


guid-brither

guid-brither (plural guid-brithers or guid-breither)

guid-brithers (plural)
guid-breither (plural)

[ˈɡødˌbrɪðər]

[ˈɡjødˌbrɪðər]

[ˈɡɪdˌbrɪðər]


guid-mither

[ˈɡødˌmɪðər]

[ˈɡydˌmɪðər]

[ˈɡjødˌmɪðər]

[ˈɡødˌmɪdər]

[ˈɡɪdˌmɪðər]

[ˈɡedˌmɪðər]

[ˈɡidˌmɪðər]


guid-faither

[ˈɡødˌfeːðər]

[ˈɡødˌfɛðər]

[ˈɡydˌfɛðər]

[ˈɡjødˌfeːðər]

[ˈɡjødˌfɛðər]

[ˈɡɪdˌfeːðər]

[ˈɡɪdˌfɛðər]

[ˈɡedˌfɛðər]

[ˈɡidˌfɛðər]


mither tongue

[ˈmɪðərˌtʌŋ]

[ˈmɪdərˌtʌŋ]


guidwill

From Old English *gōdwille (“goodwill”), equivalent to guid + will.

guidwilly

kindly, hearty, cordial, generous, open-handed


tak the guid o

tak the guid o (third-person singular simple present taks the guid o, present participle takkin the guid o, simple past teuk the guid o, past participle takken the guid o)

taks the guid o (present singular third-person)
takkin the guid o (participle present)
teuk the guid o (past)
takken the guid o (participle past)


Guid Man

Who gave them food, and calmed their souls with prayer; 'Twas the good man, the lisping infant cries.

Nae doot it was the Good Man wha made the flowerets wee.

Pale, delicate, bob-haired Peggy Robertson, . . . when she had died, had, his mother explained, “gone to the Gude Man.”


guidwife

The guidwife had repeatedly given Peter the hint to throw the shawl into the bed, as it would be there concealed till the husband was gone […]

1825, Archibald Crawfurd, Tales of my grandmother


guidless

guidless (comparative mair guidless, superlative maist guidless)

mair guidless (comparative)
maist guidless (superlative)

Inherited from Middle English goodles, from Old English gōdlēas; equivalent to guid (“good”) + -less (“-less”)


guidness

Inherited from Northern Middle English gudeness (southern goodnesse), from Old English gōdnes, from Proto-West Germanic *gōdnassī; equivalent to guid (“good”) + -ness (“-ness”).


wirds

third-person singular simple present indicative form of wird


hempie

A Gilpy that had ſeen the Faught, / I wat he was nae lang, / Till he had gather'd ſeven or aught / Wild Hempies ſtout and ſtrang;

1720, Allan Ramsay, “Christ's Kirk on the Green”, in Poems, canto 3, page 117

(often humorous) Someone who deserves to be, or is likely to be, hanged.


hempie

head

hempie (comparative mair hempie, superlative maist hempie)

mair hempie (comparative)
maist hempie (superlative)

Tho' Rob was stout, his cousin dang / Him down wi' a gryte shudder; / Syne a' the drochlin hempy thrang / Gat o'er him wi' a fudder.

1739, John Skinner, “The Monymusk Christmas Ba'ing”, in Caledonian Magazine, or Aberdeen Repository; reprinted in Songs and Poems, by the Rev. John Skinner, Peterhead: William L. Taylor, 1859, page 6


weirdfu

weirdfu (comparative mair weirdfu, superlative maist weirdfu)

mair weirdfu (comparative)
maist weirdfu (superlative)

weird (“fate, fortune, destiny”) + -fu (“-ful”)


weirdless

head

weirdless (comparative mair weirdless, superlative maist weirdless)

mair weirdless (comparative)
maist weirdless (superlative)

weird (“fate, fortune, destiny”) + -less

suffix

unfortunate, ill-fated, inept, incapable


wanweirdly

head

wanweirdly (comparative mair wanweirdly, superlative maist wanweirdly)

mair wanweirdly (comparative)
maist wanweirdly (superlative)


dae guid

tae dae guid (third-person singular simple present daes guid, present participle daein guid, simple past daed guid, past participle duin guid)

tae dae guid (canonical)
daes guid (present singular third-person)
daein guid (participle present)
daed guid (past)
duin guid (participle past)


spaed

simple past tense and past participle of spae


spaes

third-person singular simple present indicative form of spae


skelf

Uncertain. Perhaps from Middle Dutch schelf (“a scale, flake or splinter of wood”).

bor

'Like I say; I could have got the baby-sitter to help me with him, but she's just a skelf...not our regular girl.'


skelf

From Middle English schelfe and Old Norse skjalf, both ultimately from Proto-Germanic *skelfō.


skelf

head

skelf (third-person singular simple present skelfs, present participle skelfin, simple past skelft, past participle skelft)

skelfs (present singular third-person)
skelfin (participle present)
skelft (past)
skelft (participle past)

To lay or set (a person or thing) up, as on a high shelf; to elevate in importance.


guidly

guidly (comparative guidlier, superlative guidliest)

guidlier (comparative)
guidliest (superlative)

From Middle English goodly, goodlich, godliche, from Old English gōdlīċ, from Proto-Germanic *gōdalīkaz, equivalent to guid (“good”) + -ly.


housewifeskip

From Middle English *huswifskip, northern variant of husewifschipe, husewijfschip, equivalent to housewife + -skip (“-ship”). More at English housewifeship.


withgang

withgang (third-person singular simple present withgangs, present participle withgangin, simple past withgangt, past participle withgangt)

withgangs (present singular third-person)
withgangin (participle present)
withgangt (past)
withgangt (participle past)

The verb is from Old Norse viðganga (“to access, admit”), equivalent to with- + gang. It is cognate with Faroese viðganga (“to confess, admit”) and Danish vedgå (“to confess, admit”); compare also Old English wiþgangan (“to go against, oppose, pass away, vanish, disappear”). The noun is from Old Norse viðganga (“access, admission”).


withgang

free or unrestricted access (to); licence; liberty; freedom


withgang

From Old Norse viðgangr (“increase”). Cognate with Icelandic viðgangur (“success”).


guidwillt

head

guidwillt (comparative mair guidwillt, superlative maist guidwillt)

mair guidwillt (comparative)
maist guidwillt (superlative)


maunna

And then she changed her voice and would be as saft as honey: 'My puir wee Ailie, was I thrawn till ye? Never mind, my bonnie. You and me are a' that's left, and we maunna be ill to ither.'

1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide


Elfame

Elfhame and Elphame with the -hame stem ("home" in Scots) are modern conjectural readings by Robert Pitcairn, which he gave in footnotes and in index. They are his standardization for the various forms such as elfame and elfane (without -hame stem).

Thai war the gude wychtis that wynnit in the Court of Elfame

1576, Robert Pitcairn ed. (1833), Criminal Trials, Vol. 1, Part. 2, page 53


Elphyne

Ane carling of the quene of phareis, That ewill win geir to elphyne careis (Poem 45, v.372)

1583, Robert Sempill, Satirical Poems of the Time of the Reformation, Vol. 1, page 365


hereanent

here + anent (“fronting, opposite, over against”)


thareanent

head

thareanent (comparative mair thareanent, superlative maist thareanent)

mair thareanent (comparative)
maist thareanent (superlative)

thare (“there”) + anent (“concerning, about”)

compound

the matter already mentioned, relating to what has been said above


knusle

head

knusle (third-person singular simple present knusles, present participle knuslin, simple past knuselt, past participle knuselt)

knusles (present singular third-person)
knuslin (participle present)
knuselt (past)
knuselt (participle past)


champit

simple past tense and past participle of champ


birsed

simple past tense and past participle of birse


smusht

simple past tense and past participle of smush


pran't

simple past tense and past participle of pran


streened

simple past tense and past participle of streen


brousle

brousle (third-person singular simple present brousles, present participle brouslin, simple past brouselt, past participle brouselt)

brousles (present singular third-person)
brouslin (participle present)
brouselt (past)
brouselt (participle past)


prans

third-person singular simple present indicative form of pran


birsie

birsie (comparative birsier, superlative birsiest)

birsier (comparative)
birsiest (superlative)

birse (“bristle, hair; anger, temper”) + -ie


thrimmelt

simple past tense and past participle of thrimmle


thrimmelt

head

thrimmelt (comparative mair thrimmelt, superlative maist thrimmelt)

mair thrimmelt (comparative)
maist thrimmelt (superlative)


thrimmles

third-person singular simple present indicative form of thrimmle


thrimmle

thrimmle (third-person singular simple present thrimmles, present participle thrimmlin, simple past thrimmelt, past participle thrimmelt)

thrimmles (present singular third-person)
thrimmlin (participle present)
thrimmelt (past)
thrimmelt (participle past)

(with on) to push, force, foist something on someone

to push, jostle, or squeeze one's way through a crowd, etc.


jirt

jirt (third-person singular simple present jirts, present participle jirtin, simple past jirtit, past participle jirtit)

jirts (present singular third-person)
jirtin (participle present)
jirtit (past)
jirtit (participle past)


nievel

nievel (third-person singular simple present nievels, present participle nievelin, simple past nievelt, past participle nievelt)

nievels (present singular third-person)
nievelin (participle present)
nievelt (past)
nievelt (participle past)

to grip, squeeze or pinch with the fingers


streen

Middle English, from Old French estreindre.


streen

streen (third-person singular simple present streens, present participle streenin, simple past streent, past participle streent)

streens (present singular third-person)
streenin (participle present)
streent (past)
streent (participle past)

to strain, squeeze, extort money or confessions, etc.


streend

(Southern Scots) Alternative form of streen


streend

streend (third-person singular simple present streends, present participle streendin, simple past streendit, past participle streendit)

streends (present singular third-person)
streendin (participle present)
streendit (past)
streendit (participle past)


knidge

knidge (third-person singular simple present knidges, present participle knidgin, simple past knidged, past participle knidged)

knidges (present singular third-person)
knidgin (participle present)
knidged (past)
knidged (participle past)

Possibly of North Germanic origin; compare English nudge.