droich

→ Scottish Gaelic: troich

From Middle English dwergh, dwerȝe (with irregular metathesis), from Old English dweorg, from Proto-West Germanic *dwerg, from Proto-Germanic *dwergaz. More at dwarf.


doup

Doupie laddie


dwine

head

dwine (third-person singular simple present dwines, present participle dwinin, simple past dwinet, past participle dwinet)

dwines (present singular third-person)
dwinin (participle present)
dwinet (past)
dwinet (participle past)

From Old English dwīnan, from Proto-Germanic *dwīnaną.


plack

Probably from West Flemish placke (“small coin”), related to French plaque, Medieval Latin placa. See English plaque.

And than, besides his valiant acts, / At bridals he won many placks. (Robert Sempill, ‘The Piper of Kilbarchan’)


boun

boun (comparative mair boun, superlative maist boun)

mair boun (comparative)
maist boun (superlative)

Inherited from Middle English boun, from Old Norse búinn, past participle of búa (“prepare”).

Therefore ever thou mak thee boun / To obey, and thank thy God of all.


tirl

tirl (third-person singular simple present tirls, present participle tirlin, simple past tirlt, past participle tirlt)

tirls (present singular third-person)
tirlin (participle present)
tirlt (past)
tirlt (participle past)


jalouse

jalouse (third-person singular simple present jalouses, present participle jalousin, simple past jaloused, past participle jaloused)

jalouses (present singular third-person)
jalousin (participle present)
jaloused (past)
jaloused (participle past)

From Old French jalouser (“to be jealous of”).

der

to guess, suspect, infer, be suspicious of, to have doubts or suspicions about, surmise


stramash

Uncertain. Possibly colonial (?) from Hindi तमाशा (tamāśā) which also means 'a commotion'.
 Possibly related to Hindi तमाशा (tamāśā) or Italian stramazzone.


immis

head

immis (comparative mair immis, superlative maist immis)

mair immis (comparative)
maist immis (superlative)

changeable; gloomy, misty (of weather etc.)


gawsie

gawsie (comparative gawsier, superlative gawsiest)

gawsier (comparative)
gawsiest (superlative)


gowden

gowden (comparative mair gowden, superlative maist gowden)

mair gowden (comparative)
maist gowden (superlative)

From Middle English golden; compare English golden.


snod

snod (comparative mair snod, superlative maist snod)

mair snod (comparative)
maist snod (superlative)


splore

splore (third-person singular simple present splores, present participle splorin, simple past splore't, past participle splore't)

splores (present singular third-person)
splorin (participle present)
splore't (past)
splore't (participle past)

Robert Louis Stevenson, Catriona

My faither, Tam Dale, peace to his banes, was a wild, sploring lad in his young days, wi' little wisdom and less grace.


ettle

ettle (third-person singular simple present ettles, present participle ettlin, simple past ettle't, past participle ettle't)

ettles (present singular third-person)
ettlin (participle present)
ettle't (past)
ettle't (participle past)


pree

pree (third-person singular simple present prees, present participle preein, simple past preed, past participle preed)

prees (present singular third-person)
preein (participle present)
preed (past)
preed (participle past)

Whan the stewart pree'd the watter turned intil wine, onkennin whaur it cam frae, tho the servans at hed drawn it kent, he turned tae the bridgegroom. John 2:9 (Lorimer translation)


leal

leal (comparative mair leal, superlative maist leal)

mair leal (comparative)
maist leal (superlative)

From Middle English leel, lel, borrowed from Anglo-Norman leal and Old French leial, from Latin lēgālis.


mease

mease (third-person singular simple present meases, present participle measin, simple past meased, past participle meased)

meases (present singular third-person)
measin (participle present)
meased (past)
meased (participle past)


gads

From God, originally used as an oath or curse word and later expanded to a general expression of disgust.

I’m not lookin at that, gads.


plook

Uncertain; perhaps related to English plug.


pluke

Uncertain; possibly from Gaelic ploc, genitive pluic, 'a lump or clod, a block of wood'.

Alternative form of plook (“spot, pimple, pustule”)


swithert

simple past tense and past participle of swither


hoor

Yon quine's a gey coorse wee hoor!

That girl is a very cheeky little whore!


evite

evite (third-person singular simple present evites, present participle evitin, simple past evitet, past participle evitet)

evites (present singular third-person)
evitin (participle present)
evitet (past)
evitet (participle past)

From Middle Scots evite, from Early Modern English evite, from Middle French eviter, from Latin ēvītō (“to avoid”). Cognate with modern French éviter and English evite (obsolete in English since the 17th century).

(archaic, transitive) To avoid, escape, or shun.


hails

third-person singular simple present indicative form of hail


champs

third-person singular simple present indicative form of champ


westlins

westlins (comparative mair westlins, superlative maist westlins)

mair westlins (comparative)
maist westlins (superlative)


weirdly

weirdly (comparative mair weirdly, superlative maist weirdly)

mair weirdly (comparative)
maist weirdly (superlative)

lucky, of prosperous or sinister fate, magical, eerie, dismal


saut

From Old English sealt, from Proto-Germanic *saltą, from Proto-Indo-European *seh₂l-.

bitter consequences, retribution, smart, sharp, stinging words, sarcasm


saut

saut (third-person singular simple present sauts, present participle sautin, simple past sautit, past participle sautit)

sauts (present singular third-person)
sautin (participle present)
sautit (past)
sautit (participle past)

to preserve in salt, pickle, sprinkle with salt

to punish, take revenge, snub, repress, treat severely


yestreen

From Middle English yestereven (“yesterday evening”).


knowe

And there I had three score o' yowes, / Ochon, Ochon, Ochrie! / Skipping on yon bonie knowes, / And casting woo' to me.

1794, Robert Burns, The Highland Widow's Lament

(please add an English translation of this quotation)


crivvens

From earlier criffins, a euphemistic alteration of Christ fend us. Attested from the late 19th century.

Crivvens, his boabs lang past helpin noo.


fowk

From Middle English folk, from Old English folc, from Proto-West Germanic *folk, from Proto-Germanic *fulką.


loanin

From Middle English lonnynge (“a right of way”), equivalent to loan + -in. Attested in Older Scots from the 14th century.

The gerss dees and grows oot on the loanin.

2002 [1978], George Campbell Hay, “The Auld Border Wumman”, in Collected Poems and Songs of George Campbell Hay, Edinburgh University Press, page 25

The grass dies and grows again out on the pasture. The stream? I’d drink its water in a cup.

The burn? I’d drink its watter i a tassie.

a strip of grass on a farm used as pasture, a road, or an area for milking cattle; a lonnen

I gat up an’ wandered (partly tae warm me, an’ partly wi’ the restlessness sin brings wi’ it) up a loanin’ leadin’ frae the town we were actin’ in.

1863, Michael Scribblestane, “The Guid Folk O’ Ponderweel”, in Sarah Smith Jones, editor, Northumberland and Its Neighbour Lands, page 20

I got up and wandered (partly to keep warm, and partly with a sinner’s restlessness) up a lane that led out of the town where we were performing.

O, bonnie Bessie Logan,

2018 [1913], Alexander Anderson, “Bonnie Bessie Logan”, in Later Poems, page 39

The lads are at the stile,
Or half-way up the loanin’
To catch your winsome smile
Oh, pretty Bessie Logan, The boys are at the gate, Or half-way up the lane To catch your pleasant smile

a lane; the part of a street that has no pavement


baith

1836, Joanna Baillie, Witchcraft, Act 1, p.13

She's enough to mak a trooper quake; ay, wi' baith swurd and pistol by his side.


fashes

third-person singular simple present indicative form of fash


fasht

He wis gye fasht wi ye

Whit wey are ye that fasht aboot it?- Why are you so worried about it?


fasht

simple past tense and past participle of fash


cannei

head

cannei (comparative mair cannei, superlative maist cannei)

mair cannei (comparative)
maist cannei (superlative)


peh

Eh hud meh eh on a peh.


puir

puir (comparative mair puir, superlative maist puir)

mair puir (comparative)
maist puir (superlative)

From Middle English povre, from Old French povre, from Latin pauper.

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


craig

Of Celtic origin; compare Scottish Gaelic creag, Irish creag, Welsh craig, Manx creg. Cognate with English crag.


sauld

simple past tense and past participle of sell


ers

From Middle English ers, form of ars, from Old English ears, ærs, from Proto-West Germanic *ars, from Proto-Germanic *arsaz.


rumple

(anatomy) rump, tail, haunches, buttocks, seat


dinkt

simple past tense and past participle of dink


teuchter

Uncertain. Compare Scottish Gaelic nouns naming types of people, such as saighdear (“soldier”) or crèadhadair (“potter”); perhaps also Scottish Gaelic tuath (“country people”). Some commentators compare regional English or Scots teuch (“tough”).

ncog

Ye’ve had it, ye big Heilan’ stirk! Ye neep! Ye teuchter, ye!

1970, George MacDonald Fraser, The General Danced at Dawn, page 70

You've had it, you big Highlander bullock! You turnip! You teuchter, you!

(derogatory) a Highlander, especially if Gaelic-speaking; a rural Scot in general

(derogatory, Glasgow) a Scot with a thick accent from outside west-central Scotland

(derogatory, Aberdeen) a Scot from Aberdeenshire, i.e. not Aberdeen


dirks

third-person singular simple present indicative form of dirk


ert

head

ert (third-person singular simple present erts, present participle ertin, simple past ertit, past participle ertit)

erts (present singular third-person)
ertin (participle present)
ertit (past)
ertit (participle past)


gie

gie (third-person singular simple present gies, present participle giein, simple past gied, past participle gied or gien)

gies (present singular third-person)
giein (participle present)
gied (past)
gied (participle past)
gien (participle past)

From Middle English given, geven, gifen, from Old Norse gefa.

Gie us (or gie's) a brek.

“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


saining

making the sign of the cross, or genuflecting


yett

Inherited from Middle English yet, alternative form of gate, from Old English ġeat, from Proto-West Germanic *gat, from Proto-Germanic *gatą.


breid

From Middle English bred, from Old English bread, from Proto-Germanic *braudą.


ticht

ticht (comparative mair ticht, superlative maist ticht)

mair ticht (comparative)
maist ticht (superlative)

From Middle English thyght, thiht, from Old English *þīht, *þiht (attested in meteþīht) and Old Norse þéttr, both from Proto-Germanic *þinhtaz, from Proto-Indo-European *tenkt- (“dense, thick, tight”), from *ten- (“to stretch, pull”).

der

In good condition (without damage or holes)


Gunn

From Middle English Gunn, from Old Norse Gunnr.


gyte

Unknown. Also found in Northern English dialects. In the "boy" sense, possibly from get (“offspring”).

crazy or mad; delirious; out of one's senses


gyte

A first-year boy at the Royal High School, Edinburgh or Edinburgh Academy.


nocht

From Middle English nought, from Old English nāwiht (“nothing, naught”). More at naught.


nocht

head

nocht (comparative mair nocht, superlative maist nocht)

mair nocht (comparative)
maist nocht (superlative)


nocht

nocht (third-person singular simple present nochts, present participle nochtin, simple past nochtit, past participle nochtit)

nochts (present singular third-person)
nochtin (participle present)
nochtit (past)
nochtit (participle past)


jeuk

jeuk (third-person singular simple present jeuks, present participle jeukin, simple past jeukt, past participle jeukt)

jeuks (present singular third-person)
jeukin (participle present)
jeukt (past)
jeukt (participle past)


rade

Then he rade awa.


scunners

third-person singular simple present indicative form of scunner


cuntit

cuntit (comparative mair cuntit, superlative maist cuntit)

mair cuntit (comparative)
maist cuntit (superlative)

Am pure cuntit.

(vulgar, slang) Totally exhausted, fucked, knackered.

(vulgar, slang) Extremely drunk, paralytic.

(vulgar, slang) Under the heavy influence of mind-altering drugs.


heftit

simple past tense and past participle of heft


hefts

third-person singular simple present indicative form of heft


gies

third-person singular simple present indicative form of gie


bowks

third-person singular simple present indicative form of bowk


sassanoch

(derogatory) Alternative spelling of sassenach


makkit

simple past tense and past participle of mak


bowkin

bowkin (comparative mair bowkin, superlative maist bowkin)

mair bowkin (comparative)
maist bowkin (superlative)

(Southern Scots) awful; bad; terrible; (literally nausea-inducing)


tiret

simple past tense and past participle of tire


claucht

simple past tense and past participle of cleek


cleeks

third-person singular simple present indicative form of cleek


leis

third-person singular simple present indicative form of lei


bealin

bealin (comparative mair bealin, superlative maist bealin)

mair bealin (comparative)
maist bealin (superlative)


doitit

doitit (comparative mair doitit, superlative maist doitit)

mair doitit (comparative)
maist doitit (superlative)

James Kennedy, The Droukit Pedlar
Dazed was he, an' fairly doitit,
Kack'd wi' anguish o' despair,
Sprauchled up, then owre he cloited,
Cowpit catmaw doun the stair.


braw

braw (comparative mair braw, superlative maist braw)

mair braw (comparative)
maist braw (superlative)

Alteration of brave. Compare Swedish bra (“good; fine”).

This man, so gallant and braw, would never be for her; doubtless the fine suit and the capering horse were for Joan o' the Croft's pleasure.


braw

"Ay, Madge," said Mr. Sharpitlaw, in a coaxing tone; "and ye're dressed out in your braws, I see; these are not your every-days' claiths ye have on."

1839, Walter Scott, The Heart of Midlothian, page 207

"Ah, Madge," said Mr. Sharpitlaw, in a coaxing tone; "and you're dressed up in your Sunday best, I see; these are not your everyday clothes you have on."


cailleach

→ English: cailleach, Cailleach

Borrowed from Scottish Gaelic cailleach, from Old Irish caillech, from caille (“veil”) + -ach.


kichie

kichie (comparative mair kichie, superlative maist kichie)

mair kichie (comparative)
maist kichie (superlative)


kich

Apparently a euphemistic alteration of cack, cach, from Middle English *caken, cakken, from Latin cacō (“to defecate”).


kich

kich (comparative mair kich, superlative maist kich)

mair kich (comparative)
maist kich (superlative)

(vulgar, slang) Rubbish, crap, not very good.


kich

Shit! An expression of disgust or anger.


buik

From Middle English booke, from Old English bōc. See book for more.

Heir endis this buik, writtin in tyme of pest / Quhen we fra labor was compeld to rest

1568, “The Wryttar to the Redare”, in George Bannatyne, editor, Bannatyne Manuscript

Here ends this book, written in time of plague, / When we from labour were compelled to rest

His Lordship was lollin' in his easy chair afore the fire, tho' it was a fine June mornin'; and a puir, shrivelled, pock-pitted, black-coated chiel was reading to him frae some buik or ither.

1830, “The Aucht Years' Plea”, in The Glasgow University Album: A Selection of Original Pieces, page 168

His Lordship was lolling in his easy chair in front of the fire, though it was a fine June morning; and a poor, shrivelled, pock-pitted, black-coated fellow was reading to him from some book or other.

But introduce Scots, even jist a wee bit o it, intae a wean’s learnin and mair aften than no, a licht goes on. Bairns that hadnae opened a buik afore want tae ken whaur the library is.

2016 April 20, Matthew Fitt, “Attainment o oor weans: Let me spell it oot in Scots”, in The National

But introduce Scots, even just a little bit of it, into a child's learning and more often than not, a light goes on. Children that hadn't opened a book before want to know where the library is.


Auld Enemy

sco-proper noun

[auld|Auld]] Enemy. Please see Module:checkparams for help with this warning.">Auld Enemy

From the long history of conflict between Scotland and England.

The English people or England, especially when in a sporting context.


pan

head

pan (third-person singular simple present pans, present participle pannin, simple past panned, past participle panned)

pans (present singular third-person)
pannin (participle present)
panned (past)
panned (participle past)

Eh'm gonnae pan yer windaes in!

(slang) break, smash (particularly of windows)


laird

From northern/Scottish Middle English lard, laverd, a variant of lord.


dookie

From dook (“duck, bathe”). Compare dooker.

He preached himself in the kitchen, an’ bapteezed his family in the mill dam. They ca’d him a dookie, but a’ve heard there’s mair than ae kind […]

1895, Ian Maclaren, The Days of Auld Lang Syne, page 319


dictionar

Derived from Medieval Latin dictiōnārium (“dictionary”).


snoot

From Middle English snowte. Cognate with English snout.


hushion

Probably from hose and thus cognate to German Höschen.

Hushions on her bare legs, / Bauchels on her feet, / Seekin' waukrife bairnies / Up an' doun the street!

c. 1830-1890, James Nicholson, Jenny wi' the lang pock


hyim

Cognate with Northumbrian English hyem, from Old English hām. See also hame.

A hink A'm ga'i be gan hyim sin.


nowts

(Southern Scots) naught, nothing (alternative form of nowt).


yow yins

(Southern Scots) Second-person plural pronoun; you; you lot (but without pejorative implications).


brouk

From Middle English brouken, from Old English brūcan (“to use, enjoy”), from Proto-West Germanic *brūkan.

to have the use or owndom of (money, land, etc.)


blae

head

blae (comparative mair blae, superlative maist blae)

mair blae (comparative)
maist blae (superlative)

Middle English bla, blo, from Old Norse blár (“livid, blue”). More at blue.

bluish, bluish-gray (blue-gray), intermediate between blue and gray


hev

hev (third-person singular simple present hez, present participle hevin, simple past hed, past participle hed)

hez (present singular third-person)
hevin (participle present)
hed (past)
hed (participle past)


steik

From Middle English stic, from Middle Dutch stucke, sticke, from Old Dutch *stukki, *stikki, from Proto-West Germanic *stukkī, from Proto-Germanic *stukkiją. Compare Plautdietsch Stekj (“piece”), Dutch stuk (“piece”).

(commercial) a piece or item of goods; a small number or amount, a quantity


laigh

laigh (comparative laigher, superlative laighest)

laigher (comparative)
laighest (superlative)


gou

From Middle English gulle, from a Brythonic language, from Proto-Brythonic *gwuɨlann, from Proto-Celtic *wēlannā (“seagull”).


hippin

See English hippin, from hip (“hip”) + ing

(humorous) The curtain of a penny theatre.


Elphame

I am but the Queen of fair Elphame / Come out to hunt in my follie.

(Can we date this quote?), Robert Graves, “Thomas the Rhymer”, in English and Scottish Ballads


duik

duik (third-person singular simple present duiks, present participle duiking, simple past duikt, past participle duikt)

duiks (present singular third-person)
duiking (participle present)
duikt (past)
duikt (participle past)


blether

blether (third-person singular simple present blethers, present participle bletherin, simple past blethert, past participle blethert)

blethers (present singular third-person)
bletherin (participle present)
blethert (past)
blethert (participle past)


drave

A wes daunnerin hame alang the Quenesferrie Rodd eftir skuil whan he drave paust in a limmie wi a swairm o poliss afoir an eftir.

2016 March 23, Iain W Forde, “Thrie lessons frae Cuba”, in The National

Earlier that mornin ah'd drave up tae the Co-Op fir ma mornin paper, an the streets wir awaash wi rid an white flags an banners!

2017 June 7, Wilson Rab, “Glesses clinkt tae famous victory fur heroic Glens”, in The National


eith

eith (comparative mair eith, superlative eithest)

mair eith (comparative)
eithest (superlative)

From Old English ēaþe, from Proto-Germanic *auþuz. Cognate with English eath.


trest

From Middle English trest, from Old French trastre, from Latin trānstrum; related to English trestle.


soudert

Afore 1707 it wis a free kintra, an in 1707 it wis soudert tae Scotland shapin the Kinrick o Graet Breetain.

Before 1707 it was a free country, and in 1707 it was joined to Scotland, making the Kingdom of Great Britain.

simple past tense and past participle of souder


souders

third-person singular simple present indicative form of souder


souder

souder (third-person singular simple present souders, present participle souderin, simple past soudert, past participle soudert)

souders (present singular third-person)
souderin (participle present)
soudert (past)
soudert (participle past)

From late Middle English souder, from Old French solder, from Latin solidō (“make solid”).


felid

From New Latin Felidae, from felis (“cat, feline”).


aucht

Inherited from Old English ǣht, from Proto-Germanic *aihtiz.


mim

mim (comparative mair mim, superlative maist mim)

mair mim (comparative)
maist mim (superlative)

From Early Scots mim, imitative of pursing the lips. Compare English mum (“silent”).


mim

mim (third-person singular simple present mims, present participle mimin, simple past mimt, past participle mimt)

mims (present singular third-person)
mimin (participle present)
mimt (past)
mimt (participle past)


nane

From Middle English noon, from Old English nān, from ne (“not”) + ān (“one”). Compare English none.


nane

nane (comparative mair nane, superlative maist nane)

mair nane (comparative)
maist nane (superlative)


Nannie

a diminutive of the female given name Agnes


brade

brade (third-person singular simple present brades, present participle bradein, simple past bradet, past participle bradet)

brade brade (canonical)
brades (present singular third-person)
bradein (participle present)
bradet (past)
bradet (participle past)

Ultimately from Proto-Germanic *brēdaną (“to heat; to roast”).

der

To move quickly, to take large steps in a rapid and successive manner


teet

head

teet (comparative mair teet, superlative maist teet)

mair teet (comparative)
maist teet (superlative)


hain

hain (third-person singular simple present hains, present participle hainin, simple past haint, past participle haint)

hains (present singular third-person)
hainin (participle present)
haint (past)
haint (participle past)

To enclose an area with a fence or hedge


awfih

awfih (comparative mair awfih, superlative maist awfih)

mair awfih (comparative)
maist awfih (superlative)

(Southern Scots) Variant spelling of awfi.


awfi

awfi (comparative mair awfi, superlative awfist)

mair awfi (comparative)
awfist (superlative)

The weather's awfi, inteet?


awfi

That's awfi guid!


sieven

(Southern Scots) Alternative form of seiven


platchin

platchin (comparative mair platchin, superlative maist platchin)

mair platchin (comparative)
maist platchin (superlative)

From Old English plæsc (*plæscende if it existed).

A'm fair platchin!


drookeet

drookeet (comparative mair drookeet, superlative maist drookeet)

mair drookeet (comparative)
maist drookeet (superlative)


saicond

That's the saicond hing A'll heh'i dae the day.


saicond

A'll no be a saicond!


ther

Could ee clean ther wundihs for is?


eit

(Southern Scots) eight (note pronunciation)


nuhin

Ah look aboot the caravan fur inspiration but nuhin is jumpin oot at me.

2018, Chris McQueer, HWFG, 404 Ink, published 2018, page 23


whae

Whae dar meddle wi mei?


dae

dae (third-person singular simple present dis, present participle daein, simple past did, past participle din)

dis (present singular third-person)
daein (participle present)
did (past)
din (participle past)

Whit ye daein?

What ee daein?

The world disnae know how tae handle wummin like me so until cunts figure that oot, ah'll joost keep dain, an gettin, witever the fuck ah want.

2018, Chris McQueer, HWFG, 404Ink, published 2018, page 2


dae

dae (third-person singular simple present dis, simple past did)

dis (present singular third-person)
did (past)

I do see what you're talking about.

A div sei what ee'r on aboot! (South Scots)

(Southern Scots, Doric Scots) indicates an affirmation of something


wur

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.


wur

(Southern Scots) simple past tense of be


havers

third-person singular simple present indicative form of haver


miniseries

From mini- + series and/or from English miniseries.


apen

head

apen (comparative mair apen, superlative maist apen)

mair apen (comparative)
maist apen (superlative)

From Middle English open, from Old English open (“open”), from Proto-West Germanic *opan, from Proto-Germanic *upanaz (“open”), from Proto-Indo-European *upo (“up from under, over”).


apen

head

apen (third-person singular simple present apens, present participle apenin, simple past apent, past participle apent)

apens (present singular third-person)
apenin (participle present)
apent (past)
apent (participle past)

From Middle English openen, from Old English openian (“to open”), from Proto-West Germanic *opanōn, from Proto-Germanic *upanōną (“to raise; lift; open”), from *upanaz (“open”, adjective).


wus't

How guid wus't?

(Southern Scots) Contraction of wuz eet (was it)


is't

What time is't?


twol

(Southern Scots) Alternative form of twal


twal

Inherited from Middle Scots twelf, from Early Scots twelf, from Middle English twelve, from Old English twelf, from Proto-Germanic *twalif.


maun

From Early Scots man, from Middle English mone (“shall, must”), from Old Norse mun, man, first and third person singular indicative of Old Norse munu (“shall, will; must”), from Proto-Germanic *munaną.

"Then ye maun eat and drink, Steenie," said the figure; "for we do little else here; and it's ill speaking between a fou man and a fasting."


maun

head

maun (negative maunna, past maunt, past participle maunt)

maunna (negative)
maunt (past)
maunt (participle past)

to master, overcome, control, have or establish authority over, issue commands in an imperious or authoritative manner, boss about


psychologie

psychologie (countable and uncountable, plural psychologies)


shrei

(Southern Scots) Alternative form of three


sasine

From Middle English seisin, from Old French seisin (English seisin), from the verb seisir (“to seize”).

The delivery of feudal property, typically land.


wynd

From Middle English wynde, probably from wynden (“to wind, proceed, go”). Compare also Old English ġewind; Old Norse venda.


flits

third-person singular simple present indicative form of flit


spellin

an arrangement of letters that form a word or part of a word.


cauld

cauld (comparative caulder, superlative cauldest)

caulder (comparative)
cauldest (superlative)


releegion

Inherited from Middle English religioun; see it for more.

A system of beliefs, including belief in the existence of at least one of the following: a human soul or spirit, a deity or higher being, or self after the death of one’s body.

A number of customs and rituals associated with such beliefs.

Anything that involves the association of people in a manner resembling a religious institution or cult.

Any system or institution which one engages with in order to foster a sense of meaning or relevance in relation to something greater than oneself.


soond

A sensation perceived by the ear caused by the vibration of air or some other medium.


soond

soond (comparative mair soond, superlative maist soond)

mair soond (comparative)
maist soond (superlative)


divvent

Cognate with Geordie (English dialect) divint.

Ee div ken what A'm on aboot, divvent ee?


dizzent

John dis hev a doag, dizzent eh?


onti'd

A pit ma cup onti'd.

(Southern Scots) onti eet (i.e. onto it)


wi'd

Hei ca deal wi'd umsel.


throwe

(Southern Scots) through (note pronunciation)


thaim

(Southern Scots, personal, emphatic) third-person plural pronoun; them. Compare non-emphatic pronoun them (/ðəm/).


bowkt

simple past tense and past participle of bowk


o'd

Ee hennae seen aa o'd yet.


eiteen

(Southern Scots) eighteen (note pronunciation)


eity

(Southern Scots) eighty (note pronunciation)


thoosind

(Southern Scots) thousand (used with "a" in the same way as English to denote 1000)


heh'i

A div heh'i gaun oot the morn, divvent A?


ga'i

Ir ee ga'i dae the washin?

(Southern Scots) gan (or gaun) ti (i.e. go to or going to)


lowp

lowp (third-person singular simple present lowps, present participle lowpin, simple past lowpt, past participle lowpt)

lowps (present singular third-person)
lowpin (participle present)
lowpt (past)
lowpt (participle past)

Northern Isles, South West Central Scots

lowp the dyke

Deh lowp ower that fence!


caa

caa (third-person singular simple present caas, present participle caain, simple past caad, past participle caad)

caas (present singular third-person)
caain (participle present)
caad (past)
caad (participle past)
forms also caaed (past)


wa'i

Div ee wa'i dae that or no?

(Southern Scots) want (or watt) ti (i.e. want to)


wud

(Southern Scots) would (uncommon variant of wad)


wuddent

Ee wad dae that, wuddent ee?


wadnae

A wadnae dae that if A wur yow.


wudnae

A wudnae dae that if A wur yow.


lowps

third-person singular simple present indicative form of lowp


lowpt

simple past tense and past participle of lowp


wudden

Ee wad dae that, wudden ee?


wudden

wudden (comparative mair wudden, superlative maist wudden)

mair wudden (comparative)
maist wudden (superlative)


hatters

third-person singular simple present indicative form of hatter


raigular

raigular (comparative mair raigular, superlative maist raigular)

mair raigular (comparative)
maist raigular (superlative)


justifee

justifee (third-person singular simple present justifees, present participle justifeein, simple past justifeet, past participle justifeet)

justifees (present singular third-person)
justifeein (participle present)
justifeet (past)
justifeet (participle past)


wastren

wastren (comparative mair wastren, superlative maist wastren)

mair wastren (comparative)
maist wastren (superlative)


mibbe

mibbe (comparative mair mibbe, superlative maist mibbe)

mair mibbe (comparative)
maist mibbe (superlative)


alangside

alangside (comparative mair alangside, superlative maist alangside)

mair alangside (comparative)
maist alangside (superlative)


foond

foond (third-person singular simple present foonds, present participle foondin, simple past foondt, past participle foondt)

foonds (present singular third-person)
foondin (participle present)
foondt (past)
foondt (participle past)


exeest

exeest (third-person singular simple present exeests, present participle exeestin, simple past exeestt, past participle exeestt)

exeests (present singular third-person)
exeestin (participle present)
exeestt (past)
exeestt (participle past)


smaa

smaa (comparative smaaer, superlative smaaest)

smaaer (comparative)
smaaest (superlative)


offeecal

offeecal (comparative mair offeecal, superlative maist offeecal)

mair offeecal (comparative)
maist offeecal (superlative)


ineetial

ineetial (comparative mair ineetial, superlative maist ineetial)

mair ineetial (comparative)
maist ineetial (superlative)


teetle

The name of a book, film, musical piece, etc.

A prefix or suffix added to a person's name to signify either veneration, official position or a professional or academic qualification.


boakit

simple past tense and past participle of boak


naitural

naitural (comparative mair naitural, superlative maist naitural)

mair naitural (comparative)
maist naitural (superlative)


ensaumple

Anglo-Norman ensaumple, one of the variants of essample


thegither

‘We've came here tae spend some time the gither, huv a laugh an that, an you've no took yer nose oot that bastardin phone.’

2018, Chris McQueer, HWFG, 404Ink, published 2018, page 3


vouel

From Middle English vowell, from Old French voyeul, vouel, from Latin vōcālis.


auncient

auncient (comparative mair auncient, superlative maist auncient)

mair auncient (comparative)
maist auncient (superlative)


windae

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


shooglie

shooglie (comparative mair shooglie, superlative maist shooglie)

mair shooglie (comparative)
maist shooglie (superlative)


aforehaund

aforehaund (comparative mair aforehaund, superlative maist aforehaund)

mair aforehaund (comparative)
maist aforehaund (superlative)


fechts

third-person singular simple present indicative form of fecht


sheuch

From the same Middle English root as English sough (“drain, drainage ditch”) and sike (“gutter, ditch”), ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *sīk.


jyntlie

jyntlie (comparative mair jyntlie, superlative maist jyntlie)

mair jyntlie (comparative)
maist jyntlie (superlative)


sauch

Inherited from Middle English salgh, variant of salow (“willow”), from Old English sealh, from Proto-West Germanic *salh, from Proto-Germanic *salhaz, from Proto-Indo-European *sh₂lk-, *sh₂lik-. Compare English sallow.


dee'd

simple past tense and past participle of dee


dwines

third-person singular simple present indicative form of dwine


hailsome

hailsome (comparative mair hailsome, superlative maist hailsome)

mair hailsome (comparative)
maist hailsome (superlative)


yammert

simple past tense and past participle of yammer


scienteefic

scienteefic (comparative mair scienteefic, superlative maist scienteefic)

mair scienteefic (comparative)
maist scienteefic (superlative)


follae

follae (third-person singular simple present follaes, present participle follaein, simple past follaet, past participle follaet)

follaes (present singular third-person)
follaein (participle present)
follaet (past)
follaet (participle past)


cloot

from clook (“claw”). Otherwise related to English cleat.


jynes

third-person singular simple present indicative form of jyne


jyne

jyne (third-person singular simple present jynes, present participle jynein, simple past jynet, past participle jynet)

jynes (present singular third-person)
jynein (participle present)
jynet (past)
jynet (participle past)


exeests

third-person singular simple present indicative form of exeest


tradeetional

tradeetional (comparative mair tradeetional, superlative maist tradeetional)

mair tradeetional (comparative)
maist tradeetional (superlative)


bluid

From Old English blōd, from Proto-Germanic *blōþą.


deif

deif (comparative mair deif, superlative maist deif)

mair deif (comparative)
maist deif (superlative)

From Middle English deef, from Old English dēaf, from Proto-Germanic *daubaz.


rone

A gutter on the edge of the roof to catch water.


owre

owre (comparative mair owre, superlative maist owre)

mair owre (comparative)
maist owre (superlative)

Fareweel, my rhyme-compoſing billie! / Your native ſoil was right ill-willie; / But may ye flouriſh like a lily, / Now bonilie! / I'll toaſt ye in my hindmoſt gillie, / Tho' owre the Sea!

1786 July 31, Robert Burns, “On a Scotch Bard Gone to the West Indies”, in Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire: Printed by John Wilson, →OCLC; reprinted Kilmarnock: James McKie, March 1867, →OCLC, page 184


crabbit

crabbit (comparative mair crabbit, superlative maist crabbit)

mair crabbit (comparative)
maist crabbit (superlative)


fechtit

simple past tense and past participle of fecht


fechtit

fechtit (comparative mair fechtit, superlative maist fechtit)

mair fechtit (comparative)
maist fechtit (superlative)


dwam

Ah was in such a dwam that ah'd nearly walked past him[…]

He waited and let Stella onto the escalator first and stood behind her as they ascended to the airport. She seemed in a dwam as she was being carried upwards, one hand resting on the black rubber banister.

2017, Bernard MacLaverty, “Chapter 10”, in Midwinter Break (in English), page 192


boaks

third-person singular simple present indicative form of boak


thocht

simple past tense and past participle of think


clarty

clarty (comparative mair clarty, superlative maist clarty)

mair clarty (comparative)
maist clarty (superlative)


micht

From Middle English might, myght, from Old English miht, meaht (“might, power”). More at might.


micht

From Middle English mighte, from Old English mihte, meahte, first and third person indicative preterite of magan (“to be able”). More at may.


meaninless

meaninless (comparative mair meaninless, superlative maist meaninless)

mair meaninless (comparative)
maist meaninless (superlative)


athort

From 15th century, derived from Old English a (“on”) + Old Norse þverr. Compare Old English þweorh (“crosswise”).


laverock

From Middle English laveroc, laverke, from Old English lāferce, variant of older lāwerce, lǣwerce.


wirth

wirth (comparative mair wirth, superlative maist wirth)

mair wirth (comparative)
maist wirth (superlative)

wanwirth

a bargain, of little value, worthless, unworthy


heich

heich (comparative heicher, superlative heichest)

heicher (comparative)
heichest (superlative)

From Middle English high, heigh, heih, from Old English hēah.


abuin

abuin (comparative buiner, superlative buinmaist)

buiner (comparative)
buinmaist (superlative)

From Middle English aboven, from Old English abūfan, onbufan.

superior to fate, in good cheer, in or into a better condition


abuin

above, over, higher than, louder than, higher up

more than in number, quantity, or degree; over and above


stappeet

(Southern Scots) simple past tense and past participle of stap


howfin

howfin (comparative mair howfin, superlative maist howfin)

mair howfin (comparative)
maist howfin (superlative)

(Southern Scots) awful; bad; terrible; (literally nausea-inducing)


cairry

cairry (third-person singular simple present cairries, present participle cairryin, simple past cairriet, past participle cairriet)

cairries (present singular third-person)
cairryin (participle present)
cairriet (past)
cairriet (participle past)


wunnae

A wunnae be oot the night.


hattered

simple past tense and past participle of hatter


whae's

Whae's that?


staps

third-person singular simple present indicative form of stap


thae

Did ee pit thae away?


fecht

fecht (third-person singular simple present fechts, present participle fechtin, simple past fechtit or focht or feucht, past participle fechtit or fochten or feuchten)

fechts (present singular third-person)
fechtin (participle present)
fechtit (past)
focht (past)
feucht (past)
fechtit (participle past)
fochten (participle past)
feuchten (participle past)

From Middle English fighten, from Old English feohtan, from Proto-West Germanic *fehtan, from Proto-Germanic *fehtaną.

to struggle against misfortune, poverty, etc.


fecht

From Middle English feght, from Old English feoht, from the verb.


deid

From Middle English ded, deed, from Old English dēad.


deid

simple past tense of dei (more commonly spelt, dee)


byke

Unknown. Cognate with Northern Middle English bike; cf. English bike.


fleis

third-person singular simple present indicative form of flei


laist

laist (comparative mair laist, superlative maist laist)

mair laist (comparative)
maist laist (superlative)


flei

flei (third-person singular simple present fleis, present participle fleiin, simple past flew, past participle flown)

fleis (present singular third-person)
fleiin (participle present)
flew (past)
flown (participle past)


conseests

third-person singular simple present indicative form of conseest


conseest

conseest (third-person singular simple present conseests, present participle conseestin, simple past conseestit, past participle conseestit)

conseests (present singular third-person)
conseestin (participle present)
conseestit (past)
conseestit (participle past)


mony

'And who may ye be?' said Heriotside, growing eerie.

1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide

'Just an auld packman,' says he, 'nae name ye wad ken, but kin to mony gentle houses.'
(please add an English translation of this quotation)


deis

Div ee ken whae deis it the end o'd?

third-person singular simple present indicative form of dei


tirls

third-person singular simple present indicative form of tirl


nae

That's nae richt!


nae

There's nae breid left!


ettles

third-person singular simple present indicative form of ettle


cairt

a. 1578, Protocol Books of Dominus Thomas Johnsoun, 1528–1578

a. 1606, A Collection of Inventories and other Records of the Royal Wardrobe and Jewelhouse and of the artillery and munitioun in some of the royal castles, 1488–1606 (published 1815)

a. 1660, The Poetical Remains of William Lithgow, the Scotish Traveller 1618–60 (published 1863)

I had rather see on land, Be true eye-sight, than all the worlde by cairt
(please add an English translation of this quotation)


cairt

cairt (third-person singular simple present cairts, present participle cairtin, simple past cairtit, past participle cairtit)

cairts (present singular third-person)
cairtin (participle present)
cairtit (past)
cairtit (participle past)


yellih

yellih (comparative mair yellih, superlative maist yellih)

mair yellih (comparative)
maist yellih (superlative)


deaves

third-person singular simple present indicative form of deave


admeets

third-person singular simple present indicative form of admeet


caas

third-person singular simple present indicative form of caa


caa'd

What did ee caa'd?


caad

simple past tense and past participle of caa


pey

(Southern Scots) a pea (in Roxburghshire)


thankit

simple past tense and past participle of thank


yelli

yelli (comparative mair yelli, superlative maist yelli)

mair yelli (comparative)
maist yelli (superlative)

yelli:


derk

derk (comparative derker, superlative derkest)

derker (comparative)
derkest (superlative)


daurk

daurk (comparative mair daurk, superlative maist daurk)

mair daurk (comparative)
maist daurk (superlative)


clyre

Cognate with Dutch klier (“gland”), probably derived from the same source, Middle Dutch cliere.

(in the plural, definite) a disease of cattle, murrain

lymph node in meat, especially the pope's eye


halie

halie (comparative mair halie, superlative maist halie)

mair halie (comparative)
maist halie (superlative)


reid

reid (comparative mair reid, superlative maist reid)

mair reid (comparative)
maist reid (superlative)

reid:


expoonds

third-person singular simple present indicative form of expoond


supernaitural

supernaitural (comparative mair supernaitural, superlative maist supernaitural)

mair supernaitural (comparative)
maist supernaitural (superlative)


expoond

expoond (third-person singular simple present expoonds, present participle expoondin, simple past expoondt, past participle expoondt)

expoonds (present singular third-person)
expoondin (participle present)
expoondt (past)
expoondt (participle past)


bleck

bleck (comparative blecker, superlative bleckest)

blecker (comparative)
bleckest (superlative)

bleck:


bleck

A challenge to a feat of exceptional skill; a baffle in reaction to such a feat.


gaans

(Southern Scots) third-person singular simple present indicative form of gaan


splores

third-person singular simple present indicative form of splore


meased

simple past tense and past participle of mease


splore't

simple past tense and past participle of splore


meases

third-person singular simple present indicative form of mease


watter

watter (countable and uncountable, plural watters)

From Middle English water, from Old English wæter, from Proto-West Germanic *watar, from Proto-Germanic *watōr, from Proto-Indo-European *wódr̥.
.
cognates
Cognate with English water, North Frisian weeter (“water”), Saterland Frisian Woater (“water”), West Frisian wetter (“water”), Dutch water (“water”), Low German Water (“water”), German Wasser, Norwegian Bokmål vann (“water”), Swedish vatten (“water”), Norwegian Nynorsk and Icelandic vatn (“water”), Old Irish coin fodorne (“otters”, literally “water-dogs”), Latin unda (“wave”), Lithuanian vanduõ (“water”), Russian вода́ (vodá, “water”), Albanian ujë (“water”), Ancient Greek ὕδωρ (húdōr, “water”), Armenian գետ (get, “river”), Sanskrit उदन् (udán, “wave, water”), Hittite 𒉿𒀀𒋻 (wa-a-tar).

cog

Can A hae a gless o watter, please?

A went on doon the watter.


watter

head

watter (third-person singular simple present watters, present participle watterin, simple past wattert, past participle wattert)

watters (present singular third-person)
watterin (participle present)
wattert (past)
wattert (participle past)

From Old English wæterian, from Proto-Germanic *watrōną, *watrijaną, from *watōr (“water”), from Proto-Indo-European *wódr̥ (“water”).
cognates
Cognate with English water, Saterland Frisian woaterje (“to water”), West Frisian wetterje (“to water”), Dutch wateren (“to water”), German Low German watern (“to water”), German wässern (“to water”), Danish vande (“to water”), Swedish vattna (“to water”), Icelandic vatna (“to water”).

A'm gaunae watter thae flouers.


stert

stert (third-person singular simple present sterts, present participle stertin, simple past stertit, past participle stertit)

sterts (present singular third-person)
stertin (participle present)
stertit (past)
stertit (participle past)


naurby

naurby (comparative mair naurby, superlative maist naurby)

mair naurby (comparative)
maist naurby (superlative)


bonxie

Stercorarius skua
Stercorarius skua#Translingual

(chiefly Shetland) the great skua, Stercorarius skua


afeard

afeard (comparative mair afeard, superlative maist afeard)

mair afeard (comparative)
maist afeard (superlative)

From Middle English afered, past participle of aferen, chiefly archaic. The aphetic forms feard, feart, are more common.


afeard

(archaic) simple past tense and past participle of afear


help ma boab

goodness gracious me
goodness gracious me

expressing frustration, amazement, etc.; ≈ crikey, goodness gracious me


kirkin

The first attendance at church of a couple after marriage, or a magistrate after election.


kirkit

simple past tense and past participle of kirk


kirkit

Having attended church for the first time after a wedding, birth, or other significant event.


Jethart

Jedburgh, a town in the Scottish Borders.


real MacKay

the real McCoy

Attested in 1856 as “A drappie o’ the real MacKay” (A drop of the real MacKay). Used as advertising slogan of G. MacKay & Co., Ltd., a whisky distiller.
Later attested 1883, Robert Louis Stevenson:
: For society, there isna sae muckle, but there’s myself—the auld Johnson, ye ken—he’s the real Mackay…

(idiomatic) The real McCoy, the genuine article, not an imitation.


justifeet

simple past tense and past participle of justifee


justifees

third-person singular simple present indicative form of justifee


tappit-hen

A crested hen, or a hen with a top tuft of feathers.

A tappit hen; a large bottle or jar of wine or spirits, generally one three times the size of a normal bottle.


tappit

tappit (comparative mair tappit, superlative maist tappit)

mair tappit (comparative)
maist tappit (superlative)


affoord

affoord (third-person singular simple present affoords, present participle affoordin, simple past affoordit, past participle affoordit)

affoords (present singular third-person)
affoordin (participle present)
affoordit (past)
affoordit (participle past)


etri

etri (comparative mair etri, superlative maist etri)

mair etri (comparative)
maist etri (superlative)


muin

From Middle English mone, Old English mōna, from Proto-West Germanic *mānō, from Proto-Germanic *mēnô, from Proto-Indo-European *mḗh₁n̥s (“moon, month”), from *meh₁- (“to measure”).


doon

head

doon (comparative mair doon, superlative maist doon)

mair doon (comparative)
maist doon (superlative)

From Old English dūne, aphetic form of adūne, from of dūne (“off the hill”).

/ Maxwelton braes are bonnie, / Where early fa's the dew, / And its there that Annie Laurie, / Gie'd me her promise true / Gie'd me her promise true, / Which ne'er forgot shall be, / And for bonnie Annie Laurie / I'd lay me doon and dee.

1852-1859, Lady John Scott (lyrics and music), “Annie Laurie”, in Scottish Songs


yersel

Tak a guid leuk at yersel.


pron

pron (third-person singular simple present prons, present participle pronnin, simple past pronnit, past participle pronnit)

prons (present singular third-person)
pronnin (participle present)
pronnit (past)
pronnit (participle past)


kenspeckle

kenspeckle (comparative mair kenspeckle, superlative maist kenspeckle)

mair kenspeckle (comparative)
maist kenspeckle (superlative)


hink

hink (third-person singular simple present hinks, present participle hinkin, simple past thought or thocht, past participle thought or thocht)

hinks (present singular third-person)
hinkin (participle present)
thought (past)
thocht (past)
thought (participle past)
thocht (participle past)

Variant of think. From Middle English thinken, thynken, thenken, thenchen, from Old English þencan, þenċan, þenċean (“to think”), from Proto-Germanic *þankijaną (“to think, suppose, perceive”), from Proto-Indo-European *teng- (“to think, feel, know”).


hink

From Middle English *hinken, from Old English hincian (“to limp, halt, hobble”), from Proto-Germanic *hinkaną (“to limp, hobble, be injured”).


houghmagandie

There's some are fou o' love divine, / There's some are fou o' brandy; / An' monie jobs that day begin, / May end in Houghmagandie / Some ither day.

c. 1785, Robert Burns, “The Holy Fair”, in Complete Poems & Songs, Oxford Paperbacks, Stanza XXVII, page 109


gome

From Middle English gome, gume, from Old English guma (“man, lord, hero”), from Proto-Germanic *gumô (“man”).


vauntie

head

vauntie (comparative mair vauntie, superlative maist vauntie)

mair vauntie (comparative)
maist vauntie (superlative)


coft

From Middle Dutch cofte, from copen (“to buy”) (Modern Dutch kopen).

simple past tense and past participle of coff


cutty

cutty (comparative mair cutty, superlative maist cutty)

mair cutty (comparative)
maist cutty (superlative)


kend

simple past tense and past participle of ken


ainimal

From Middle English animal, from Old French animal, from Latin animālis, a nominal use of an adjective from animale, neuter of animalis, from anima (“breath, spirit”).


stravaig

stravaig (third-person singular simple present stravaigs, present participle stravaigin, simple past stravaigt, past participle stravaigt)

stravaigs (present singular third-person)
stravaigin (participle present)
stravaigt (past)
stravaigt (participle past)


agers

agers (comparative mair agers, superlative maist agers)

mair agers (comparative)
maist agers (superlative)

Possibly a special application of agalis (“very difficult”).

(Orkney) gluttonous, insatiable (in regard to food)


faggy

faggy (comparative faggier, superlative faggiest)

faggier (comparative)
faggiest (superlative)

fag (“fail from weariness, flag, falter”) + -y


aboot

From Middle English aboute, from Old English onbūtan.

on the move, up and around (especially as recovered from an illness)


dyke

A dry-stone wall usually forming a boundary to a wood, field or garden.

A mound of earth, stone- or turf-faced, sometimes topped with hedge planting, used as a fence between any two portions of land.


bodie

A bodie maun aye ken whit a bodie is daein wi a bodie's sel.

One must always know what one is doing with oneself.


bodie

A member of Genus Homo. Not to be confused with person, although all "bodies" are people.


efternin

What's gaun on this efternin?


fither

Ir ee ga'i bide it eer fither's?


finnd

head

finnd (third-person singular simple present finnd, present participle finndin, simple past fund, past participle fund)

finnd (present singular third-person)
finndin (participle present)
fund (past)
fund (participle past)


tellt

But my man tellt me no to lat him up, an' hoo am I to be a wife sic as wad hae, O Lord, gien I dinna dee as my man tellt me!

1879, George MacDonald, “Chapter XXVI. The Gamekeeper”, in Sir Gibbie

simple past tense and past participle of tell


crowdie

Evolution of Early Scots crud, cognate with Early Modern English and Middle English crud or crudde (“coagulated milk; curd; any coagulated or thickened substance; dregs”), without undergoing the metathesis of Modern English curd. Derives from Old English crūdan (“to press”), itself from the earlier Proto-Germanic *krūdaną, *kreudaną, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *grewt- (“to push; press”).

der

(especially North Northern Scots) A soft fresh cheese, similar to the English cottage cheese, which is traditionally produced from naturally soured milk. In some modern preparations it is rolled in oats, or mixed with herbs or spices such as peppercorns.

A dish of oatmeal mixed with cold water, similar to brose.


lilly

head

lilly (comparative mair lilly, superlative maist lilly)

mair lilly (comparative)
maist lilly (superlative)

From English liefly, from Middle English levely, levelike, lefliȝ, leofliche, from Old English lēoflīċe (“kindly, graciously, gladly, lovingly”), from lēoflīċ, from Proto-Germanic *leubalīka, from Proto-Germanic *leubalīkaz.


Pesh

(Southern Scots) a rector or headmaster, particularly the Rector of Hawick High School


peshed

head

peshed (comparative mair peshed, superlative maist peshed)

mair peshed (comparative)
maist peshed (superlative)

(Southern Scots) very drunk (a variant of pished)


leikeet

(Southern Scots) simple past tense and past participle of like


an aa

A did that an aa.


haud

haud (third-person singular simple present hauds, present participle haudin, simple past haudit, past participle haudit)

hauds (present singular third-person)
haudin (participle present)
haudit (past)
haudit (participle past)

From Middle English halde, northern form of holden, from Old English healdan, of Germanic origin.


speir

speir (third-person singular simple present speirs, present participle speirin, simple past speirt or spure, past participle speirt)

speirs (present singular third-person)
speirin (participle present)
speirt (past)
spure (past)
speirt (participle past)

From Old English spyrian, from Proto-Germanic *spurjaną. Cognate with German spüren, Swedish spörja, Danish spørge.

Now we're married - speir nae mair, / But whistle o'er the lave o't!

1789, Robert Burns, Whistle O'er The Lave O't

It seems that the young Heriotside, riding by one day, stopped to speir something or other, and got a glisk of Ailie's face which caught his fancy.


speir

A person who is continually asking questions; a prying, inquisitive person


aglee

And, at the moment of joining the car at the place appointed, a conviction seized me that my well-laid schemes had gone "a-gley".

1930, Sax Rohmer, The Day the World Ended, published 1969, page iv. 36


semmit

From medieval cloth samite (see velvet).

Once on returning from a visit to the hospital he told us that an old man had spoken of his semmet, the Scots for what an Englishman calls his vest.

1948, Hector Charles Cameron, Joseph Lister, the Friend of Man, W. Heinemann, page 7

He made a grotesque figure — all inhibitions gone — in sadly shrunken white flannel trousers and cotton vest (his 'wee semmit').

1962, Jessica Brett Young, Francis Brett Young: A Biography, Heinemann, page 160

'Put yer semmit on', it's a mair a winter

BBC Voices Recording: Dunbar document 1431.


hirsel

The entire stock on a farm or stock under the charge of a shepherd.


hirsel

hirsel (third-person singular simple present hirsels, present participle hirselin, simple past hirselt, past participle hirselt)

hirsels (present singular third-person)
hirselin (participle present)
hirselt (past)
hirselt (participle past)

(transitive) To put into different groups.


gude

gude (comparative mair gude, superlative maist gude)

mair gude (comparative)
maist gude (superlative)


wark

From Middle English work, werk, from Old English worc, weorc, ġeweorc, from Proto-Germanic *werką (“work”), from Proto-Indo-European *wérǵom.

"A twa-horse wark, maybe? or dee ye make it oot wi' ae beast an' an owse?"

1875, William Alexander, Sketches of Life Among My Ain Folk, page 51


leen

A piece of grassy land in a moor or by a river, a meadow, freq. of a pasture of natural grass.


busies

Another song in their repertoire, sung to the tune of ‘Bless Them All’, began: ‘Stab then aw, stab them aw, the busies, the judges, an' aw!’

1973, James Patrick, A Glasgow Gang Observed, page 64

Freddy the driver did not say cops, he said busies. Watch out for the busies. These c***s will f*****g do ye.

2008, James Kelman, Kieron Smith, Boy, Penguin, published 2009, page 368


feid

From Early Scots fede (cognate with Middle English fede), from Old English fǣhþ, fǣhþu, fǣhþo (“hostility, enmity, violence, revenge, vendetta”), from Proto-West Germanic *faihiþu (“hatred, enmity”).

der

(archaic) A feud, enmity, carrying-on of hostility.


cozie

head

cozie (comparative mair cozie, superlative maist cozie)

mair cozie (comparative)
maist cozie (superlative)

While some are cozie i' the neuk,

An' forming assignations
To meet some day
(please add an English translation of this quotation)


coorse

coorse (comparative mair coorse, superlative maist coorse)

mair coorse (comparative)
maist coorse (superlative)

Dinna be coorse or ah'll skelp yer dowp!


aboord

From Middle English abord, equivalent to a- + boord.


aisy

aisy (comparative mair aisy, superlative maist aisy)

mair aisy (comparative)
maist aisy (superlative)


scunnert

simple past tense and past participle of scunner


evin

From Middle English evene, efene, efne (“ability, nature”), from Old Norse efni (“material, stuff”), from Proto-Germanic *abniją (“material”), from Proto-Indo-European *op- (“to work; income, wealth”). Cognate with Icelandic efni (“content”), Swedish ämne (“subject, substance, material, topic”), Danish evne (“ability”).

cog

Matter; subject-matter; substance; means.


luvin

present participle of luve English: loving


buird

From Middle English bord (“board, slab; table; boat; shield”). Cognate with English board.

inh

A briest like a buird, and a back like a door.

1847, James Paterson, The Ballads and Songs of Ayrshire, page 90

"A breast like a board, and a back like a door.

board (relatively long, wide and thin piece of any material, usually wood or similar, often for use in construction or furniture-making)

They brocht him ben, an' sat him doun before a weel-spread buird,

1877, Alex G. Murdoch, The Laird's Lykewake and Other Poems, London, Edinburgh and Glasgow: Simpkin, Marshal, & Co.; John Menzies & Co,, Bring the Bodie Ben, page 183

They brought him in, and sat him down before a well-spread table,


bery

head

bery (third-person singular simple present beries, present participle beryin, simple past beriet, past participle beriet)

beries (present singular third-person)
beryin (participle present)
beriet (past)
beriet (participle past)


tattie scone

From tattie (“potato”) + scone (“large circular cake baked on a griddle; a slice of such a cake”).


dominie

From Latin domine, vocative singular of dominus (“lord", "sir", "head of household”); from domus (“house”) + -inus.


ocht

Inherited from Middle English aught, ought, from Old English āht, āwiht, from ā (“always", "ever”) + wiht (“thing", "creature”).


fift

From Middle English fifthe, fifte, fift, from Old English fīfta (“fifth”), from Proto-Germanic *fimftô (“fifth”) or *femftô.


smeddum

She's showin' the haill coort/ the smeddum intil her!

(please add an English translation of this quotation)


unct

head

unct (third-person singular simple present uncts, present participle uncting, simple past unctit, past participle unctit)

uncts (present singular third-person)
uncting (participle present)
unctit (past)
unctit (participle past)

Quhy use ze nocht the samin sevin be sik names as thai ar expressit in Scriptuir but ferthair contentioun, as Baptim; the Lordis Supper; the Impositioun of Handis, in Confirmatioun and Ordinatioun of Ministeris; the Keis for Absolutioun to the penitent; Matrimonie; the Prayer on the Seik with uncting of oill?

1734, Robert Keith, History of the Affairs of Church and State in Scotland, Spottiswoode Society, published 1850


clim

clim (third-person singular simple present clims, present participle climmin, simple past clam, past participle clum)

clims (present singular third-person)
climmin (participle present)
clam (past)
clum (participle past)

Old English climban, from Proto-Germanic *klimbaną. Cognate with English climb, Dutch klimmen, German klimmen.


cognosce

cognosce (third-person singular simple present cognosces, present participle cognoscin, simple past cognoscit, past participle cognoscit)

cognosces (present singular third-person)
cognoscin (participle present)
cognoscit (past)
cognoscit (participle past)

(transitive) to inquire or investigate, with an aim towards rendering judgement

(law, transitive) to make a determination

(law, transitive) to determine a person to be insane or mentally incompetent


cark

From Middle English carken. See cark above.


cark

cark (third-person singular simple present carks, present participle carkin, simple past carkt, past participle carkt)

carks (present singular third-person)
carkin (participle present)
carkt (past)
carkt (participle past)


sweer

sweer (comparative mair sweer, superlative maist sweer)

mair sweer (comparative)
maist sweer (superlative)


dreichly

dreichly (comparative mair dreichly, superlative maist dreichly)

mair dreichly (comparative)
maist dreichly (superlative)

From Middle English dreghly; equivalent to dreich + -ly.


dreich in the draw

slow to decide; slow to act; not quick off the mark


deid dreich

The dead level; completely flat surface or area of ground, etc.


shaws

third-person singular simple present indicative form of shaw


gair

(archaic) a strip of grass on a hillside, especially bright green and fertile grass


smush

smush (third-person singular simple present smushes, present participle smushin, simple past smusht, past participle smusht)

smushes (present singular third-person)
smushin (participle present)
smusht (past)
smusht (participle past)


chowk

chowk (third-person singular simple present chowks, present participle chowkin, simple past chowkeet, past participle chowkeet)

chowks (present singular third-person)
chowkin (participle present)
chowkeet (past)
chowkeet (participle past)

Deh chowk on eet!


pairt

pairt (third-person singular simple present pairts, present participle pairtin, simple past pairtit, past participle pairtit)

pairts (present singular third-person)
pairtin (participle present)
pairtit (past)
pairtit (participle past)


Kelsae

Kelso, a town in the Scottish Borders region.


gleg-lugged

gleg-lugged (comparative mair gleg-lugged, superlative maist gleg-lugged)

sco-adj

gleg-lugged

mair gleg-lugged (comparative)
maist gleg-lugged (superlative)


gleg

head

gleg (comparative mair gleg, superlative maist gleg)

mair gleg (comparative)
maist gleg (superlative)

Possibly ultimately related to Irish glicc (“shrewd, acute”), Ancient Greek καλχαίνω (kalkhaínō, “to ponder”), Proto-Germanic *klōkaz (“quick, smart”), Middle English begalewen (“to frighten, stupefy”).

cog

1836 Joanna Baillie, Witchcraft. Act 1. p13.
'When she begins to mutter wi' her white wuthered lips, and her twa gleg eyen are glowering like glints o' wildfire frae the hollow o' her dark bent brows, she 's enough to mak a trooper quake; ay, wi' baith swurd and pistol by his side.'

alert, quick-witted, keen in sight, hearing, etc.


gled

From Early Scots gled, gledd, from Old Norse gleða. Cognate with Old English glida, English glede.

Milvus milvus
Milvus milvus#Translingual


gled

head

gled (comparative mair gled, superlative maist gled)

mair gled (comparative)
maist gled (superlative)

From Early Scots glaid, glad, from Old English glæd (“bright; clear”) and Old Norse glaðr (“smooth; happy”).

smooth, easy in motion, without much friction


gley

gley (third-person singular simple present gleys, present participle gleyin, simple past gleyed, past participle gleyed)

gleys (present singular third-person)
gleyin (participle present)
gleyed (past)
gleyed (participle past)


ablow

a- + below, on analogy of above, afore, etc. See also aneth.

On the lower side or part of; lower down in; further down from.


glamer

English: glamour

(archaic) the visual influence of a charm, causing people to see things differently from what they are. Hence, to cast a glamer is to cause a visual deception


hiney

The hiney's still as sweet that flows

It's a' for the hiney he'll cherish the bee

1800, Robert Burns, My Tocher's the Jewel

The wee hummin' bees are aye blythe makin' hiney


dreep

dreep (third-person singular simple present dreeps, present participle dreepin, simple past dreepit, past participle dreepit)

dreeps (present singular third-person)
dreepin (participle present)
dreepit (past)
dreepit (participle past)

→ English: dreep

From Middle English drepen (“to drip, lower”), from Old English drēopan.


ack

From Middle English acte, from Old French act, from Latin ācta, plural of āctus.


mooth

From Middle English mouth, from Old English mūþ (“mouth, opening, door, gate”), from Proto-Germanic *munþaz (“mouth”), from Proto-Indo-European *ment- (“to chew; jaw, mouth”). Cognate with English mouth.


streetch

head

streetch (third-person singular simple present streetches, present participle streetchin, simple past streetched, past participle streetched)

streetches (present singular third-person)
streetchin (participle present)
streetched (past)
streetched (participle past)


back-end

back-end ingineer

back-end programmin

(computing) Relating to the back end part of a hardware or software system.


leed

From Middle English lede, reduced form of leden, leoden (“language”), from Old English lēoden (“national language”, literally “of the people”), from lēode (“people”). More at lede.


chirry

Chirries growe on chirry treis.


mitter

It's an awfi mitter.


mitter

head

mitter (third-person singular simple present mitters, present participle mitterin, simple past mittert, past participle mittert)

mitters (present singular third-person)
mitterin (participle present)
mittert (past)
mittert (participle past)

Dis eet mitter?


hyims

How mony hyims hev ee got, like?


sune

sune (comparative suner, superlative sunest)

suner (comparative)
sunest (superlative)


unner

From Middle English under, from Old English under, from Proto-Germanic *under.


tett

Alternative spelling of tait (lock of matted hair)


hirple

hirple (third-person singular simple present hirples, present participle hirplin, simple past hirpelt, past participle hirpelt)

hirples (present singular third-person)
hirplin (participle present)
hirpelt (past)
hirpelt (participle past)

to cripple or hamper some venture or project


agg

agg (third-person singular simple present aggs, present participle aggin, simple past agged, past participle agged)

aggs (present singular third-person)
aggin (participle present singular third-person)
agged (past present singular third-person)
agged (participle past present singular third-person)


wirk

wirk (third-person singular simple present wirks, present participle wirkin, simple past wirkt, past participle wirkt)

wirks (present singular third-person)
wirkin (participle present)
wirkt (past)
wirkt (participle past)

From Old English weorc (noun), wyrcan (verb).


ordinar

ordinar (comparative mair ordinar, superlative maist ordinar)

mair ordinar (comparative)
maist ordinar (superlative)

Na, sir, na, it no just but an ordinar morning.

1874, Francis Francis, By Lake and River, page 388


pech

pech (third-person singular simple present pechs, present participle pechin, simple past pecht, past participle pecht)

pechs (present singular third-person)
pechin (participle present)
pecht (past)
pecht (participle past)


claver

claver (third-person singular simple present clavers, present participle claverin, simple past clavert, past participle clavert)

clavers (present singular third-person)
claverin (participle present)
clavert (past)
clavert (participle past)

Uncertain. Perhaps compare Gaelic clabaire (“prattler”).

‘he'll claver wi' her, or ony ither idle slut, rather than hear what might do him gude a' the days of his life, frae you or me, Mr. Hammorgaw, or ony ither sober and sponsible person.’


a'

From Middle English all, from Old English eall (“all, every, entire, whole, universal”), from Proto-West Germanic *all, from Proto-Germanic *allaz (“all, whole, every”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- (“all”).


a'

/ Like dew on the gowan lying / Is the fa' o' her fairy feet; / And like winds in summer sighing, / Her voice is low and sweet— / Her voice is low and sweet, / And she's a' the world to me, / And for bonnie Annie Laurie / I'd lay me doon and dee.

1852–1859, Lady John Scott (lyrics and music), “Annie Laurie”, in Scottish Songs


a'

There’s mirth in the barn and the ha’, the ha’, / There’s mirth in the barn and the ha’: / There's quaffing and laughing, / And dancing and daffing; / And our young bride’s daftest of a’, of a’, / And our young bride’s daftest of a’.

1825, “Who’s at My Window”, in Allan Cunningham, compiler, The Songs of Scotland, Ancient and Modern; […] In Four Volumes, volume III, London: Printed for John Taylor, […], →OCLC, page 334


mirk

head

mirk (third-person singular simple present mirks, present participle mirkin, simple past mirkit, past participle mirkit)

mirks (present singular third-person)
mirkin (participle present)
mirkit (past)
mirkit (participle past)


mirk

mirk (comparative mirker, superlative mirkest)

mirker (comparative)
mirkest (superlative)

The westlin wind blaws loud an' shill; / The night's baith mirk and rainy, O


mairch

(usually in the plural) boundary, frontier


mairch

mairch (third-person singular simple present mairches, present participle mairchin, simple past mairchit, past participle mairchit)

mairches (present singular third-person)
mairchin (participle present)
mairchit (past)
mairchit (participle past)

To have a common boundary with something.


richt

richt (comparative mair richt, superlative maist richt)

mair richt (comparative)
maist richt (superlative)

From Middle English riȝt, riht, from Old English riht, reht, from Proto-West Germanic *reht, from Proto-Germanic *rehtaz. More at right.


collogue

I have no skill of fancy to tell of that dark collogue, but the upshot was that Alison swore by her lost soul and the pride of sin to bring the lass into thrall to her master.

1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide


collogue

collogue (third-person singular simple present collogues, present participle colloguin, simple past collogued, past participle collogued)

collogues (present singular third-person)
colloguin (participle present)
collogued (past)
collogued (participle past)


pushion

pushion (third-person singular simple present pushions, present participle pushionin, simple past pushiont, past participle pushiont)

pushions (present singular third-person)
pushionin (participle present)
pushiont (past)
pushiont (participle past)


mingin

mingin (comparative mair mingin, superlative maist mingin)

mair mingin (comparative)
maist mingin (superlative)

From ming (“to be smelly; stink”) + -in.


cannae

→ English: canna

→? Jamaican Creole: canna


ca canny

From ca (“call; drive”) + canny (“gentle”).

‘Ca' canny, man,’ said he, as I approached — ‘Ca' canny, Saunders — dinna rive folk alang the road to heaven at that rate, man.’

1836, Michael Scott, The Cruise of the Midge

‘Take it easy, man,‘ said he, as I approached — ‘Take it easy, Saunders — don't drag people along the road to heaven at that rate, man.‘

Ca' canny and flee laigh. Ca' canny and ye'll break nae graith.

1868, Alexander Hislop, The Proverbs of Scotland

Be careful and fly low. Be careful and you'll break no gear.

Some were real fighters and ye could spot them a mile away, so then ye had to caw canny. Ye just caw canny.

2008, James Kelman, Kieron Smith, Boy, Penguin, published 2009, page 390

Some where real fighters and you could spot them a mile away, so then you had to take care. You just take care.

to drive gently; (hence), to go easy, to be careful


tice

tice (third-person singular simple present tices, present participle ticin, simple past ticet, past participle ticet)

tices (present singular third-person)
ticin (participle present)
ticet (past)
ticet (participle past)

From Middle English tyce, aphetic from Old French atisier (“to stir up”), probably from a word meaning "to set on fire," derived from Latin titio (“firebrand”). Compare English entice.


mirks

third-person singular simple present indicative form of mirk


swalla

From Middle English swalwe, from Old English swealwe, from Proto-Germanic *swalwǭ. Cognate with English swallow.


swallie

swallie (third-person singular simple present swallies, present participle swallyin, simple past swallit, past participle swallit)

swallies (present singular third-person)
swallyin (participle present)
swallit (past)
swallit (participle past)


drumlie

drumlie (comparative mair drumlie, superlative maist drumlie)

mair drumlie (comparative)
maist drumlie (superlative)


tuithless

tuithless (comparative mair tuithless, superlative maist tuithless)

mair tuithless (comparative)
maist tuithless (superlative)


tuith

From Middle English tothe, from Old English tōþ, from Proto-Germanic *tanþs, from Proto-Indo-European *h₃dónts (“tooth”).


yird

From Middle English yerd, from Old English ġeard, from Proto-West Germanic *gard, from Proto-Germanic *gardaz. Cognate with English yard.


yird

yird (third-person singular simple present yirds, present participle yirdin, simple past yirdit, past participle yirdit)

yirds (present singular third-person)
yirdin (participle present)
yirdit (past)
yirdit (participle past)


soun

Anglo-Norman soun. The verb is either from the noun or Anglo-Norman souner.


soun

soun (third-person singular simple present souns, present participle sounin, simple past sount, past participle sount)

souns (present singular third-person)
sounin (participle present)
sount (past)
sount (participle past)


soun

soun (comparative souner, superlative sounest)

souner (comparative)
sounest (superlative)


straik

straik (third-person singular simple present straiks, present participle straikin, simple past straikt, past participle straikt)

straiks (present singular third-person)
straikin (participle present)
straikt (past)
straikt (participle past)


aften

aften (comparative aftener, superlative aftenest)

aftener (comparative)
aftenest (superlative)

From Middle English often, ofte, from Old English oft, from Proto-Germanic *ufta.


aften

Derived from Old Norse aptann (“evening”).


bauld

bauld (comparative baulder, superlative bauldest)

baulder (comparative)
bauldest (superlative)

From Middle English bold, bald, beald, from Old English bald, beald, from Proto-Germanic *balþaz.


dinghies

(informal, slang, Dundee) nonsense, bullshit


droukit

droukit (comparative mair droukit, superlative maist droukit)

mair droukit (comparative)
maist droukit (superlative)

Uncertain; may be from Old Norse drykkr, although this has not been proven.

She's droukit.


Hieland

Hieland (comparative mair Hieland, superlative maist Hieland)

mair Hieland (comparative)
maist Hieland (superlative)


hieland

hieland (comparative mair hieland, superlative maist hieland)

mair hieland (comparative)
maist hieland (superlative)


tices

third-person singular simple present indicative form of tice


-lins

From a variant of -lings, an ablaut variant, with genitive -s, of -lang (compare English -long). More at English -lings.

Suffix used to form adverbs from nouns, to indicate "in the direction of".

Suffix used to form adverbs from adjectives or quasi-adjectives, to connote direction and also manner, condition, degree.


laithsome

laithsome (comparative mair laithsome, superlative maist laithsome)

mair laithsome (comparative)
maist laithsome (superlative)

From Middle English laithsum, from Old English *lāþsum, from Proto-West Germanic *laiþsam, equivalent to laith + -some.


munelicht flittin

munelicht flittin (plural munelicht flittins)

Wha's been makin' a munelicht flittin' frae Carnwath the nicht?

1879, William Scott, The Red Hose: A Tale of Upper Clydesdale, page 38

Who's made a moonlight flit from Carnwath tonight?

Moonlight flit, the act of moving house at night to avoid paying debts.


laith

From Middle English lōth, from Old English lāþ, from Proto-Germanic *laiþaz, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂leyt-.


laith

laith (comparative mair laith, superlative maist laith)

mair laith (comparative)
maist laith (superlative)


yella

yella (comparative mair yella, superlative maist yella)

mair yella (comparative)
maist yella (superlative)


smushes

third-person singular simple present indicative form of smush


prent

prent (third-person singular simple present prents, present participle prentin, simple past prentit, past participle prentit)

prents (present singular third-person)
prentin (participle present)
prentit (past)
prentit (participle past)


girnie

girnie (comparative girnier, superlative girniest)

girnier (comparative)
girniest (superlative)


fashious

fashious (comparative mair fashious, superlative maist fashious)

mair fashious (comparative)
maist fashious (superlative)


fashiously

fashiously (comparative mair fashiously, superlative maist fashiously)

mair fashiously (comparative)
maist fashiously (superlative)


toun

From Middle English toun, from Old English tūn.


peely-wally

peely-wally (comparative mair peely-wally, superlative maist peely-wally)

mair peely-wally (comparative)
maist peely-wally (superlative)

Reduplication of peelie, with variation of initial syllable.

Erchie hus a laugh at that yin, n the Neebour gies a peely-wally smile while the Duke signals up a round ay black gold.

2007, Irvine Welsh, If You Liked School, You'll Love Work


thairm

From Middle English tharm, therm, from Old English þearm. More at English tharm.

Aboon them a' ye tak your place, Painch, tripe, or thairm.

(literary) A gut or bowel in the human or animal intestine.

Intestine used for haggis or musical instrument strings; catgut.


howk

howk (third-person singular simple present howks, present participle howkin, simple past howkit, past participle howkit)

howks (present singular third-person)
howkin (participle present)
howkit (past)
howkit (participle past)

From earlier holk, from Middle English holken, from holk (“a hollow part, cavity”), see holk. Cognate with Low German holken (“to make hollow, hollow out”).


sae

From Middle English so, swo, zuo, swa, swe, from Old English swā, swǣ, swē (“so, as, the same, such, that”), from Proto-Germanic *swa, *swē (“so”), from Proto-Indo-European *swē, *swō (reflexive pronomial stem). Cognate with English so (“so”), West Frisian sa (“so”), Low German so (“so”), Dutch zo (“so”), German so (“so”), Danish så (“so”), Norwegian Nynorsk so, Old Latin suad (“so”), Albanian sa (“how much, so, as”), Ancient Greek ὡς (hōs, “as”).


scowder

head

scowder (third-person singular simple present scowders, present participle scowderin, simple past scowdert, past participle scowdert)

scowders (present singular third-person)
scowderin (participle present)
scowdert (past)
scowdert (participle past)


meenit

meenit (third-person singular simple present meenits, present participle meenitin, simple past meenitit, past participle meenitit)

meenits (present singular third-person)
meenitin (participle present)
meenitit (past)
meenitit (participle past)


nacky

nacky (comparative nackier, superlative nackiest)

nackier (comparative)
nackiest (superlative)


knackie

knackie (comparative knackier, superlative knackiest)

knackier (comparative)
knackiest (superlative)


a'ready

From Middle English alredy; equivalent to a'- + ready.


fortnicht

Inherited from Middle English fourtenyght, from Old English fēowertīene niht (“fourteen nights”).


nebour

head

nebour (third-person singular simple present nebours, present participle nebourin, simple past nebourt, past participle nebourt)

nebours (present singular third-person)
nebourin (participle present)
nebourt (past)
nebourt (participle past)


neibour

Inherited from Middle English neyghebour, from Old English nēahġebūr, from Proto-West Germanic *nāhwagabūrō, from Proto-Germanic *nēhwagabūrô.

inh+

match (another thing or person of a set or pair)


neibour

head

neibour (third-person singular simple present neibours, present participle neibourin, simple past neibourt, past participle neibourt)

neibours (present singular third-person)
neibourin (participle present)
neibourt (past)
neibourt (participle past)

to form a set with something or somebody


preceese

preceese (comparative mair preceese, superlative maist preceese)

mair preceese (comparative)
maist preceese (superlative)


straucht

straucht (comparative strauchter, superlative strauchtest)

strauchter (comparative)
strauchtest (superlative)

From Middle Scots straicht, streicht, strecht, from Early Scots streyght, streke, streght, from Middle English streight, streght, from Old English streċċan, from Proto-West Germanic *strakkjan


straucht

simple past tense and past participle of streek


hoots mon

"Hoots, mon!" said the mate, who was lounging beside, "I ken a far bonnier ane than that—

1840 April, “Autobiography of an Organist”, in The Sporting Magazine, volume 20, number 120, second series, page 435

"Hey!" […] "I know a far prettier one that that

"Threaten!" and Jeamie laughed loudly; "hoots mon, what's the use o' taking it that way. […]"

1872, Charles Gibbon, “The Laird o' Clashgirn”, in Robin Gray, page 2

"Threaten!" […] "hey, what's the use of taking it that way. […] "

Whit's that?–Ye canna tell the fast anes frae the slow? / And ye a michty daemon tae! Hoots, mon, don't ye know / The Doppler shift? Och, hark ye weel, I'll tell ye whit tae do

1982, John Lowell, “The diabolical heating scheme of J C Maxwell, or, Maxwell sums nae sae bonny”, in Robert L. Weber, editor, More Random Walks in Science, page 118

/ Just bang the bluidie-reid anes back, and let the blue yins through!


thir

Thir ar the dayes that thou sa lang foretald, / Sould cum befoir his wretchit warld sould end.

1603, Elizabeth Melville, “Ane godlie Dream”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name), lines 49–50


thir

Some mair kenspeckle than ithers, thir fower leids are aw in the same wund-blawn boatie as Scots.

2016 April 13, Matthew Fitt, “Shame o Scots speakers treatit as third cless citizens”, in The National


heichly

heichly (comparative mair heichly, superlative maist heichly)

mair heichly (comparative)
maist heichly (superlative)


aet

Derived from Old Norse etja (“to incite”).

(Shetland) agitation, excitement, eagerness


roond

roond (comparative roonder, superlative roondest)

roonder (comparative)
roondest (superlative)

From Middle English rounde, from Old French reont.


roond

roond (third-person singular simple present roonds, present participle roondin, simple past roondit, past participle roondit)

roonds (present singular third-person)
roondin (participle present)
roondit (past)
roondit (participle past)


roon

roon (comparative rooner, superlative roonest)

rooner (comparative)
roonest (superlative)


roon

And, when at last he put his airms roon my neck it is nae wonder I buried my face on his shouther and telt him I wud be his wife, and do a' in my power to mak' him happy.

1887, Henry Johnston, “Concluded”, in Martha Spreull, Being Chapters in the Life of a Single Wumman


roon

roon (third-person singular simple present roons, present participle roonin, simple past roont, past participle roont)

roons (present singular third-person)
roonin (participle present)
roont (past)
roont (participle past)


goodwin

From guid + wean, literally “good child”.

, "The Broons", Sunday Post (newspaper)

Aye, she's a fair goodwin, wi' ne'er a skunner tae say fer hersel'.

(Doric Scots) A good-hearted or good-souled person, especially one who is young at heart.


fordel

(archaic) Advantage, profit, progress, advancement.

The first place; lead; precedence; preference.


fordel

To store; lay past; keep in reserve; hoard.


grice

‘Sae, an it come to the warst, I'se een lay the head o' the sow to the tail o' the grice.’


dook

From Middle English douken. More at English duck.


dook

dook (third-person singular simple present dooks, present participle dookin, simple past dookit, past participle dookit)

dooks (present singular third-person)
dookin (participle present)
dookit (past)
dookit (participle past)


dook

From Dutch doek (“cloth, linen, garment”). More at English duck (“canvas”).

A strong, untwilled linen or cotton fabric; duck


goold

goold (comparative mair goold, superlative maist goold)

mair goold (comparative)
maist goold (superlative)


gowd

From Middle English gold, from Old English gold (“gold”), from Proto-West Germanic *golþ, from Proto-Germanic *gulþą (“gold”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰl̥tóm (“gold”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰelh₃- (“yellow; gleam; to shine”).

der

Robert Burns


gowd

head

gowd (comparative mair gowd, superlative maist gowd)

mair gowd (comparative)
maist gowd (superlative)


selch

From Old English seolh, from Proto-Germanic *selhaz (compare North Frisian selich, Middle Low German sēl, Middle Dutch seel, Old High German selah, Old Norse selr).

Halichoerus grypus
Halichoerus grypus#Translingual

Phoca vitulina
Phoca vitulina#Translingual


greit

Alternative spelling of greet (“to weep”)


stound

From Middle English stound (“a moment”), from Old English stund, Old Norse stund.

Samyn with that word the reins slip let she, / And slade to ground (nocht of free volunty). / Then the cauld deith, and last stounds mortal, / The spirit dissolvit frae the course ower all;

2011 [1513], Gavin Douglas, edited by Gordon Kendall, The Aeneid, translation of original by Virgil, Book XI

'Quhat lord is yon?' quod sho, 'have ye na feill,Hes don to us so greit humanitie?Yes,' quod a lipper-man, 'I knaw him weill;Shir Troilus it is, gentill and free'Quhen Cresseid understude that it was he,Stiffer than steill thair stert ane bitter stoundThrowout hir hart, and fell doun to the ground.

2008 November 30 [c. 15th century CE], Robert Henryson, edited by Walter William Skeat, Complete Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, volumes VII, Chaucerian and Other Pieces, Being A Supplement to the Complete Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, Cosimo, Inc.,, XVII. Robert Henryson: The Testament of Cresseid, page 344, line 538

(Middle Scots, obsolete) A stroke or blow (from an object or weapon).


stound

stound (third-person singular simple present stounds, present participle stoundin, simple past stoundit, past participle stoundit)

stounds (present singular third-person)
stoundin (participle present)
stoundit (past)
stoundit (participle past)

I dinna think I clave his helmet, but I gae him sic a devil o' a knab on the temple, that he was stoundit, and fell as dead as a stane at my horse's feet.

1819, James Hogg, The Three Perils of Man – War, Women, and Witchcraft: A Border Tale, Charlie Scott's tale

(transitive) To inflict pain on, to wound.

Oh! weel my head aye be stoundin’ an sair, / An’ weel may my heart aye be beatin’ wi care, / An’ weel may the tear trickle down frae my e’e,

1844, Peter Livingston, “Oh! Winter is Come”, in Poems and Songs, Principally Relating to Scottish Manners and Customs, page 135


stound

From Middle English astound, from astoned, past participle of the verb astone (“to astonish”).

Well, for ane wee minute I'll allow I was that ’stoundit ye might hae bound me wi’ a strae; then, the neist, I gruppit the red nag atwixt my knees and ram-stam intae the verra thick o’ them.

1897, Ernest Hamilton, The Outlaws of the Marches, page 157


hauf a tale is eneuch for a wise man

a nod is as good as a wink
a nod is as good as a wink


eneuch

From Middle English ynough, from Old English ġenōg, from Proto-Germanic *ganōgaz.


saft

saft (comparative safter, superlative saftest)

safter (comparative)
saftest (superlative)

(of clothing, etc.) soft in texture, pliable, loose


saft

He cried small and saft like a bairn, and drove the grey out into the water. And aye as he spurred it the foam should have been flying as high as his head, but in that uncanny hour there was no foam; only the waves running sleek like oil.

1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide


byspel

From Middle English byspel, bispel, from Old English biġspel, bīspel (“example, pattern, proverb”), from bī- (“by-”) + spel (“tale, story”), equivalent to by- + spel. Compare Old High German bīspel, German Beispiel.

She's just a byspale.

He's nae byspel mair than me.

a rarety, someone or something of rare, unique, or exceptional qualities (often used ironically)


byspel

byspel weel ("very well")

very, extraordinarily, exceedingly, exceptionally


wedder

From Middle English wether, wethir, wedyr, from Old English weþer (“wether, ram”), from Proto-Germanic *weþruz (“wether”), from Proto-Indo-European *wet- (“year”).


abir

(Orkney) A sheaf of grain half-threshed.


fremmit

From Middle English fremmet, fremd, from Old English fremde, fremede (“foreign, strange”), from Proto-Germanic *framaþjaz. More at fremd.


umwhile

(archaic) erstwhile, former, late, deceased


bool

(Doric Scots) A single marble used in the game bools rolled into a kypie (a hollow made by the heel of the foot).


oncome

but thir is nae mair an the oncome o birth-thraws --Mark 13, W.L. Lorimer translation


boglet

"Bless us aa," said Robbie, "but he's no a very pleasant lookin corpse. Oh, but he's a boglet." An 'e man says, "Aye, we'll probably make the try an brak he's bones tae get him in because he's died sittin up [in] convulsion."

A boglet, a bogle, a ghost or supernatural being.


pitheid

'Ye'd be a lang time yersel if ye had been on the pitheid afore ye were nine, same as Ah was'

1919, Frederick Sleath, Sniper Jackson, page 209

Nor wee weans frae pitheid an clachan / Murn the ships sailin doun the Broomielaw

1960, Hamish Henderson, Freedom Come-All-Ye

[…] an ugsome place wi pitheids and bings and railway trucks and rees o coal[…]

1990, Robert McLellan, Linmill Stories, published 2010, page 86


whaup

From Old English hwilpe, or perhaps a variant *hwalp(e). Cognate with West Frisian wylp, Low German Welp, Dutch wulp.


knuse

knuse (third-person singular simple present knuses, present participle knusin, simple past knusit, past participle knusit)

knuses (present singular third-person)
knusin (participle present)
knusit (past)
knusit (participle past)

Borrowed from Old Norse knosa (“to beat, bruise”).


yowe

From Middle English ewe, from Old English eowu, from Proto-Germanic *awiz, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ówis (“sheep”).

And there I had three score o' yowes, / Ochon, Ochon, Ochrie! / Skipping on yon bonie knowes, / And casting woo' to me.

1794, Robert Burns, The Highland Widow's Lament

And there I had three score of ewes (sixty), / Alas, alas, alack! / Skipping on the beautiful knolls yonder, / And providing wool for me.


wanrest

From wan- (“lacking, wanting, without”) + rest. More at wan-, rest.


blikken

head

blikken (third-person singular simple present blikkens, present participle blikkenin, simple past blikkent, past participle blikkent)

blikkens (present singular third-person)
blikkenin (participle present)
blikkent (past)
blikkent (participle past)

From Old Norse blikja (“to grow pale”). Related to English blike. More at blike.


hurkle

hurkle (third-person singular simple present hurkles, present participle hurklin, simple past hurkled, past participle hurkled)

hurkles (present singular third-person)
hurklin (participle present)
hurkled (past)
hurkled (participle past)

Unknown. May come from Old Norse, possibly related to Dutch hurken (“to squat”).

to sit huddled in a crouched position either for warmth or secrecy, to draw oneself together like a crouching animal

to walk with the body in a crouching position


hurkle

(anatomy) the upper part of the thigh, the hip


ilka

Sae saying, I gared him climb a rape by whilk he gat abune the riggin o' the bield, then steeking to the door thro' whilk he gaed, I jimp had trailed doun the rape, when in rinned twa red coat chiels, who couping ilka ane i' their gait begun to touzle out the ben, and the de'il gaed o'er Jock Wabster.

1827 December 22, Various, The Mirror Of Literature, Amusement, And Instruction


bowie

Obscure origin. Possibly derived from Old English bolla, Old Norse bolle; cf. English bowl.

(archaic) A shallow dish, bowl, or small tub.


skelp

skelp (third-person singular simple present skelps, present participle skelpin, simple past skelpt, past participle skelpt)

skelps (present singular third-person)
skelpin (participle present)
skelpt (past)
skelpt (participle past)

Probably imitative, or from Scottish Gaelic sgealp (“slap”).

She skelpt ma doup

A wis skelpt in the face fae the tree's beuch

I was slapped in the face by the tree branch.

To beat, slap, now especially the backside.


siclike

Yet e'en the ha' folk till their pechan

Wi' sauce, ragouts, and siclike trashtrie


lith

From Old English liþ, from Proto-Germanic *liþuz.

segment, division (of an orange, apple, onion, etc.)

one of the rings at the base of a cow's horn


lith

lith (third-person singular simple present liths, present participle lithin, simple past lithit, past participle lithit)

liths (present singular third-person)
lithin (participle present)
lithit (past)
lithit (participle past)

to disjoint, sever the joints of, dislocate


frush

frush (comparative mair frush, superlative maist frush)

mair frush (comparative)
maist frush (superlative)

(archaic) Brittle, weak, decayed or rotten (of organic materials).

(archaic) Crumbly or mealy (of oatcakes or other baked goods).


aggle

Compare Norwegian alka (“to dirty, defile”).

Eftir da rain dastreen da rigs is in wan aggle o dirt.

After the yesterday evening rain, the rigs is in a mess of dirt.

(Northern Isles) mess; confused or dirty state.


aggle

aggle (third-person singular simple present aggles, present participle agglin, simple past aggled, past participle aggled)

aggles (present singular third-person)
agglin (participle present)
aggled (past)
aggled (participle past)

I wiss du widna aggle dee haands i yun fish brucks.

I wish you would not dirty the hands in those fish left-overs.


gid

gid (comparative mair gid, superlative maist gid)

mair gid (comparative)
maist gid (superlative)


solit

solit (comparative mair solit, superlative maist solit)

mair solit (comparative)
maist solit (superlative)


sauts

third-person singular simple present indicative form of saut


ance

From Middle English ones, from Old English ānes.

The English, for ance, by guile wan the day; The Flowers of the Forest, that fought aye the foremost, The prime of our land, lie cauld in the clay.

a. 1805, Jane Elliot, “A Lament for Flodden”, in English Poets of the Eighteenth Century


airth

airth (third-person singular simple present airths, present participle airthin, simple past airthit, past participle airthit)

airths (present singular third-person)
airthin (participle present)
airthit (past)
airthit (participle past)


pran

the residue of oat husks and oatmeal after milling


pran

pran (third-person singular simple present prans, present participle prannin, simple past prannit, past participle prannit)

prans (present singular third-person)
prannin (participle present)
prannit (past)
prannit (participle past)


gied

"Hoot na, Portmark, it was yersel' he was hittin' at, and the black e'e ye gied Kirsty six weeks syne."

1715, S.R. Crockett, Bog-Myrtle and Peat

"Auld Cabbage-heid didna' like me looking at Peter Rundell an' that's the way he gied me four, but I'll get a horse's hair too, an' his tawse 'll soon get wheegh.

They div say as weel that Auld Nick himsel' was present, an' gied the decision that the Cardinal, wha was to be askit ower frae Stirlin', should dee.

1910, William Le Queux, The House of Whispers


moy

moy (comparative mair moy, superlative maist moy)

mair moy (comparative)
maist moy (superlative)

From Early Scots moy, from Middle Dutch mooy, moy (“pretty, nice”), from Old Dutch mōi (see modern Dutch mooi (“nice, beautiful”)). Related to German Low German mooi (“nice, friendly, attractive, beautiful”), dialectal Norwegian møy (“quiet, gentle”).


gae

From Middle English gon, goon, from Old English gān (“to go”).
Cognates
Cognate with English go, West Frisian gean, Low German gahn, Dutch gaan, German gehen, Swedish and Danish gå, Norwegian gå.

O waly waly, up the bank, / And waly waly down the brae, / And waly waly yon burn-side / Where I and my Love wont to gae!

Woe woe, up the bank, / And woe woe down the hill / And woe woe over burnside / Where my love and I tend to go!

Gae awa, gae awa — I canna thole the very thochts o' the story whilk thou ettles to ken.

1884, Alexander Leighton, Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland Volume 17

Go away, go away — I cannot deal with the very thoughts of the story which you are trying to know.


gae

Eh, Mr Henry! but the carle gae them a screed o' doctrine!

1816, Sir Walter Scott, Old Mortality, Illustrated, Volume 1.

Hey, Mr Henry! but the man gave them a piece of doctrine!

Chirsty was in Tilliedrum last Teisday or Wednesday, an' Tibbie gae her a cup o' tea.

Chirsty was in Tilliedrum last Tuesday or Wednesday, and Tibbie gave her a cup of tea.


bridie

a meat pastry originating from Forfar, traditionally shortcrust


lippen

head

lippen (third-person singular simple present lippens, present participle lippenin, simple past lippent, past participle lippent)

lippens (present singular third-person)
lippenin (participle present)
lippent (past)
lippent (participle past)


sture

sture (comparative mair sture, superlative maist sture)

mair sture (comparative)
maist sture (superlative)

Britons sture, aye kept the floor, An' Denmark hude in awe, man.

of persons: strong, sturdy, stout-hearted, valiant.

The bairn Alison is not used to such company as a sture auld wife like me.

rough in manner or appearance, grim, gruff, austere, stern, forbidding, hard, determined, unyielding.

Ye may grane out yere ain auld sture and dour laugh.

of a sound, of the voice, etc.: deep and hoarse, harsh, gruff, rough.


kae

Middle English, probably of imitative origin.

onomatopoeic

imitative


kinnen

From Middle English coni, Old French conis, accusative plural of conil, connil, from Latin cunīculus. Cognate with English cony, Galician coello, Portuguese coelho, Italian coniglio, and Spanish conejo.