frei

head

frei (comparative freier, superlative freiist)

freier (comparative)
freiist (superlative)


able

From Middle English able, from Old French able, habile, from Latin habilis.


accidental

accidental (comparative mair accidental, superlative maist accidental)

mair accidental (comparative)
maist accidental (superlative)


second

From Middle English secunde, second, secound, secund, borrowed from Old French second, seond, from Latin secundus (“following, next in order”), from root of sequor (“I follow”), from Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- (“to follow”).


bit

A bit wee lambie

1889, Jessup Whitehead, The Steward's Handbook and Guide to Party Catering, page 439:

He laid a hundred guineas with the laird of Slofferfield that he would drive four horses through the Slofferfield loch, and in the prank he had his bit chariot dung to pieces and a good mare killed.

1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:


first

Inherited from Middle English first, from Old English fyrest, from Proto-West Germanic *furist, from Proto-Germanic *furistaz.


abstract

head

abstract (comparative mair abstract, superlative maist abstract)

mair abstract (comparative)
maist abstract (superlative)


third

From Middle English thirde, thridde, from Old English þridda, from Proto-Germanic *þridjô, from Pre-Germanic *tretyós, a remodeling of Proto-Indo-European *tr̥tyós.


air

From Middle English er, from Old English ǣr, from Proto-West Germanic *airi.


arm

arm (comparative mair arm, superlative maist arm)

mair arm (comparative)
maist arm (superlative)

From Middle English arm (“poor”), from Old English earm (“poor”), from Proto-West Germanic *arm, from Proto-Germanic *armaz (“poor”), from Proto-Indo-European *erm- (“poor, ill”).


handy

handy (comparative handier, superlative handiest)

handier (comparative)
handiest (superlative)


ben

ben (comparative benner, superlative benmaist)

benner (comparative)
benmaist (superlative)


law

law (comparative lawer, superlative lawest)

lawer (comparative)
lawest (superlative)


ilk

From the Old English īlca, from Proto-Germanic *ilīkaz, a compound of *iz and *-līkaz from the noun *līką (“body”).
Cognate to English ilk.


wabbit

wabbit (comparative mair wabbit, superlative maist wabbit)

mair wabbit (comparative)
maist wabbit (superlative)

exhausted; without energy; tired; worn-out


fly

Noo then, fa's for a fly cup?

2013 November 12, Charley Buchan, Karen Barrett-Ayres, “A Fly Cup”, in Doric Voices, Robert Gordon University, archived from the original on 2018-05-06:


sic

From Middle English sich, from Old English swelc.

I'd gie my ſhoon frae aff my feet, / To taſte ſic fruit, I ſwear, man. / Syne let us pray, auld England may / Sure plant this far-famed tree, man; / And blythe we'll ſing, and hail the day / That gave us liberty, man.

1869, Robert Burns, “The Tree of Liberty”, in Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, volume III (Posthumous Poems), Kilmarnock, Scotland: […] James M‘Kie, →OCLC, page 360:


bra

bra (comparative mair bra, superlative maist bra)

mair bra (comparative)
maist bra (superlative)

Borrowed from braf (“good, brave”); from Low German brav; from French brave, borrowed from Italian bravo.


yon

From Middle English yon, from Old English ġeon, from Proto-Germanic *jainaz. Compare English yon and German jener.

that, those, yonder (indicating a person or thing at some distance in time or space usually more remote than that)


wee

wee (comparative weer, superlative weest)

Inherited from Old English wēġ(e), wǣġ (unit of weight).


better

From Middle English bettre, from Old English betera.


lief

lief (comparative liefer, superlative liefest)

liefer (comparative)
liefest (superlative)


echt

Inherited from Middle English eiȝtthe, from Old English eahtoþa, from Proto-Germanic *ahtudô.


pure

pure (comparative mair pure, superlative maist pure)

mair pure (comparative)
maist pure (superlative)

The auld man wis pure ragin!


weird

weird (comparative mair weird, superlative maist weird)

mair weird (comparative)
maist weird (superlative)

Inherited from Middle English werde, wirde, wyrde, from Old English wyrd (“fate, destiny”), from Proto-Germanic *wurdiz.


wat

wat (comparative watter, superlative wattest)

watter (comparative)
wattest (superlative)


great

great (comparative greater, superlative greatest)

greater (comparative)
greatest (superlative)

From Middle English grete, from Old English grēat, from Proto-West Germanic *graut, from Proto-Germanic *grautaz.

swollen with rain, in flood (of a river)


aber

From Old Norse apr (“sharp, hard, bad”).


best

ill-best

best of a bad lot, best of a poor selection


actual

actual (comparative mair actual, superlative maist actual)

mair actual (comparative)
maist actual (superlative)


adaptable

adaptable (comparative mair adaptable, superlative maist adaptable)

mair adaptable (comparative)
maist adaptable (superlative)


admirable

admirable (comparative mair admirable, superlative maist admirable)

mair admirable (comparative)
maist admirable (superlative)


advised

advised (comparative mair advised, superlative maist advised)

mair advised (comparative)
maist advised (superlative)


afeared

afeared (comparative mair afeared, superlative maist afeared)

mair afeared (comparative)
maist afeared (superlative)


affectionate

affectionate (comparative mair affectionate, superlative maist affectionate)

mair affectionate (comparative)
maist affectionate (superlative)


aft

aft (comparative mair aft, superlative maist aft)

mair aft (comparative)
maist aft (superlative)

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


agile

agile (comparative mair agile, superlative maist agile)

mair agile (comparative)
maist agile (superlative)


imperial

imperial (comparative mair imperial, superlative maist imperial)

mair imperial (comparative)
maist imperial (superlative)


sad

sad (comparative sadder, superlative saddest)

sadder (comparative)
saddest (superlative)


hail

hail (comparative hailer, superlative hailest)

hailer (comparative)
hailest (superlative)

From Old English hāl (“healthy, safe”), from Proto-Germanic *hailaz (“whole, safe, sound”), from Proto-Indo-European *kéh₂ilos (“healthy, whole”).

hail an fere

in perfect health or condition, strong, unbroken

hail Yuil

the old Christmas season from December 25th to the twelfth night

free or recovered from disease, healthy, wholesome

free from injury, safe, sound, unhurt (of people, parts of the body, etc.)

whole, entire, complete, sound, unbroken, undamaged (of material objects and of time, numbers etc.)


electrical

head

electrical (comparative mair electrical, superlative maist electrical)

mair electrical (comparative)
maist electrical (superlative)


baud

baud (comparative mair baud, superlative maist baud)

mair baud (comparative)
maist baud (superlative)


unco

unco (comparative mair unco, superlative maist unco)

mair unco (comparative)
maist unco (superlative)


fer

fer (comparative ferther, superlative ferthest)

ferther (comparative)
ferthest (superlative)


clair

clair (comparative clairer, superlative clairest)

clairer (comparative)
clairest (superlative)

From Middle English clere, from Old French cler, from Latin clārus.


fou

fou (comparative mair fou, superlative maist fou)

mair fou (comparative)
maist fou (superlative)

Inherited from Middle English ful, from Old English full, from Proto-West Germanic *full, from Proto-Germanic *fullaz, from Proto-Indo-European *pl̥h₁nós.

well-fed, full of food or drink, sated, replete

We are na fou, we're nae that fou, / But just a drappie in our ee;

1789, Robert Burns, Willie Brew'd A Peck O' Maut:


ill

ill (comparative waur, superlative warst)


wast

wast (comparative mair wast, superlative maist wast)

mair wast (comparative)
maist wast (superlative)

Inherited from Middle English west, from Old English west, from Proto-West Germanic *westr, from Proto-Germanic *westraz, from Proto-Indo-European *wek(ʷ)speros. Cognate to English west.


addle

From Middle English adel (“rotten”), from Old English adel, adela (“mire, pool, liquid excrement”), from Proto-West Germanic *adal.

inh

foul, putrid, issuing from a cowhouse or dunghill.


bandy

Bowlegged, or bending outward at the knees; as in bandy legged.


swank

head

swank (comparative mair swank, superlative maist swank)

mair swank (comparative)
maist swank (superlative)


blithe

blithe (comparative blither, superlative blithest)

blither (comparative)
blithest (superlative)

From Middle English blithe, from Old English blīþe, from Proto-West Germanic *blīþī, from Proto-Germanic *blīþiz. Cognate with Danish blid, Dutch blij, Icelandic blíður. Compare bliss.

A howp ye haed a blithe birthday


canny

canny (comparative mair canny, superlative maist canny)

mair canny (comparative)
maist canny (superlative)

From the verb can (“to know”), from Middle English can, first and third person singular of cunnen, connen (“to be able, know how to”), from Old English cunnan (“to know how to, be able to”).

der

(archaic) with supernatural or occult powers


Erse

Inherited from Middle English Irish, perhaps influenced by Old Norse írskr and its descendants.


geld

head

geld (comparative mair geld, superlative maist geld)

mair geld (comparative)
maist geld (superlative)


greet

greet (comparative greeter, superlative greetest)

greeter (comparative)
greetest (superlative)


neat

From Middle English nete, from Anglo-Norman neit, a variant of Old French net, nette, from Latin nitidus (“gleaming”).


sleek

sleek (comparative sleeker, superlative sleekest)

sleeker (comparative)
sleekest (superlative)


tent

Inherited from Middle English tenth, tenthe.


worth

head

worth (comparative mair worth, superlative maist worth)

mair worth (comparative)
maist worth (superlative)


electromagnetic

From electro- (“electro-”) + magnetic (“magnetic”).


grit

head

grit (comparative mair grit, superlative maist grit)

mair grit (comparative)
maist grit (superlative)


cootie

a cootie hen

Ye cootie moorcocks


laager

From Middle English egre, from Old French egre, aigre. Cognate with Yola aagar.
Perhaps the unetymological l- was added to aid pronunciation.


fuil

fuil (comparative mair fuil, superlative maist fuil)

mair fuil (comparative)
maist fuil (superlative)

From Middle English fole (“fool”), from Old French fol, from Latin follis. Cognate with English fool.

“Money! Na! it’s ideas and no that sordid trash, that tempts me.”
“And the mair fuil you!” said Big John, half in chagrin, half in admiration.

1858, Margaret Oliphant, The Laird of Norlaw, volume 1, page 202:

“Money! No! it’s ideas and not that sordid trash that tempts me.”
“And you’re even more foolish!” said Big John, half in chagrin, half in admiration.

Ye see I’d had a fleg ae day when I was passin’ the asylum. The gates burst open an’ a’ the fule fowk cam’ runnin’ oot, skelachin’ as they gaed doon the road.

1940, John William Robertson Scott, The Countryman, page 92:

You see, I suffered a fright one day when I passing the asylum. The gates opened and all of the crazy people came running out, hooting as they went down the road.


dour

→ English: dour

Derived from Middle Irish dúr, from Latin dūrus (“hard”).


swart

swart (comparative mair swart, superlative maist swart)

mair swart (comparative)
maist swart (superlative)


bleg

(of colour) Light and drab, esp. of (wool of) sheep.


sair

sair (comparative sairer, superlative sairest)

sairer (comparative)
sairest (superlative)

From Middle English sor, from Old English sār (“ache, wound”, noun) and sār (“painful, grievous”, adjective), from Proto-Germanic *sairą (noun) and *sairaz (“sore”, adjective).


kent

kent (comparative mair kent, superlative maist kent)

mair kent (comparative)
maist kent (superlative)


mickle

mickle (comparative mair mickle, superlative maist mickle)

mair mickle (comparative)
maist mickle (superlative)


blate

blate (comparative blater, superlative blatest)

blater (comparative)
blatest (superlative)

Uncertain; perhaps from Old English blāt (“pale”).

Is there a whim-inspired fool, / Owre fast for thought, owre hot for rule, / Owre blate to seek, owre proud to snool, / Let him draw near / And owre this grassy heap sing dool, / And drap a tear.

Is there a whim-inspired fool, / Too fast for thought, too hot for rule, / Too shy to seek, too proud to submit, / Let him draw near / And over this grassy heap make lament, / And drop a tear.

stupid, easily deceived, dull, unpromising


muckle

muckle (comparative muckler, superlative mucklest)

muckler (comparative)
mucklest (superlative)


whisht

From Scottish Gaelic èist (“listen, harken”).


seil

seil (comparative mair seil, superlative maist seil)

mair seil (comparative)
maist seil (superlative)

From Middle English sele (“happiness, good fortune, bliss”), from Old English sæl (“happiness, prosperity”), from Proto-West Germanic *sālī, from Proto-Germanic *sēliz.


bonnie

head

bonnie (comparative mair bonnie, superlative maist bonnie)

mair bonnie (comparative)
maist bonnie (superlative)


bonny

bonny (comparative mair bonny, superlative maist bonny)

mair bonny (comparative)
maist bonny (superlative)

Till bonny Susan sped a-cross the plain.

Far from the bonnie banks of Ayr.

1786, Robert Burns, Farewell to the Banks of Ayr:

handsome; beautiful; pretty; attractively lively and graceful


dane

dane (comparative mair dane, superlative maist dane)

mair dane (comparative)
maist dane (superlative)

From Middle English deyne, a variant of digne (“haughty, disdainful”), from Old French digne, from Latin dignus.


licht

licht (comparative lichter, superlative lichtest)

lichter (comparative)
lichtest (superlative)

From Old English lēoht, līht, līhtan, of Germanic origin.


stalwart

stalwart (comparative mair stalwart, superlative maist stalwart)

mair stalwart (comparative)
maist stalwart (superlative)

→ English: stalwart

From Middle English stalwarde, stelewurthe, from Old English stǣlwierþe (“serviceable, able to stand in good stead”). Akin to English stalworth.

inh

physically strong, powerful, stour; exhibiting great stamina


barry

head

barry (comparative mair barry, superlative maist barry)

mair barry (comparative)
maist barry (superlative)

Borrowed from Angloromani baro (“great”)

bor+

—That wis fuckin barry, ah gasp contentedly.

1994 [1993], Irvine Welsh, “Bang to Rites”, in Trainspotting, London: Minerva, →ISBN, page 220:


fey

From Middle English fey, from Old English fǣge.


dink

head

dink (comparative mair dink, superlative maist dink)

mair dink (comparative)
maist dink (superlative)

Origin unknown. Attested in Old Scots circa 1500.

unknown

Origin unknown


sich

head

sich (comparative mair sich, superlative maist sich)

mair sich (comparative)
maist sich (superlative)


strack

strack (comparative mair strack, superlative maist strack)

mair strack (comparative)
maist strack (superlative)

Uncertain. Perhaps a variant of strick, or from Old English stræc (“strict”).


dreich

dreich (comparative mair dreich, superlative maist dreich)

mair dreich (comparative)
maist dreich (superlative)

From Middle English dregh, from Old English ġedrēog, *drēog, from Proto-West Germanic *dreug, from Proto-Germanic *dreugaz. Possibly influenced by Brythonic, e.g. Welsh drycin (“bad weather”) < drwg (“bad”) + hin (“weather”).
Distantly cognate with English drudge, dree, and German trügen.

The dreich inhuman blue on Nadia's lang-wheesht thocht-screen fizzed intae life.

2000, Matthew Fitt, But n Ben A-Go-Go, Luath, published 2000, page 132:

The dreary, inhuman blue on Nadia's long-silent thought-screen fizzed into life.

reluctant, tight-fisted, driving a hard bargain


thrawn

thrawn (comparative thrawner, superlative thrawnest)

thrawner (comparative)
thrawnest (superlative)

Participle of thraw. Cognate with English thrown and thran.

(of mouth) wry, twisted with rage or pain.

Apart from the distinctively thrawn nature of our fellow citizens, how are we to explain the extraordinary switch in support to the SNP from Labour in our opinion poll on voting intentions for a Scottish parliament?

Then an embossed card wafted through his letterbox last week and shattered his thrawn defiance of celebrity.

The thrawn Tory Brexiters should heed words of Burns as they fly Union Flags [...] With every day that passes, the impression of the Brexiters as being utterly thrawn, to use a great Scots word, just keeps on growing.

It is an extraordinary success story – and it was achieved by a small family firm whose members were notable because they were "stubborn, thrawn and as hard as nails", according to a newly published study of the Johnnie Walker blend.

She achieved this through an astute mix of business acumen and pin-sharp organisational skills, to say nothing of thrawn dedication and dogged persuasiveness.

(of person) obstinate, stubborn, defiant, contrarian.

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.'


awa

awa (comparative mair awa, superlative maist awa)

mair awa (comparative)
maist awa (superlative)

From Middle English awey, from Old English onweġ.


ae

southern East Central Scots, South-West Scots

From Northern Middle English a, apocopic form of oon, from Old English ān (“one”), from Proto-West Germanic *ain. See also Scots ane.


pish

pish (comparative mair pish, superlative maist pish)

mair pish (comparative)
maist pish (superlative)

From late Middle English pyshe, variant of pisse.

(vulgar) Not very good, in fact quite bad.


sootie

sootie (comparative mair sootie, superlative maist sootie)

mair sootie (comparative)
maist sootie (superlative)

O Thou! whatever title suit thee-
Auld Hornie, Satan, Nick, or Clootie,
Wha in yon cavern grim an' sootie,
Clos'd under hatches,
Spairges about the brunstane cootie,
To scaud poor wretches!

1785, Robert Burns, Address to the Deil:

Thou ca's me Hornie, Nick an' Clootie,
An' tells my cave is grim an' sootie;
But stop, thou'lt, may-be, be my booty;
I'll try my skill;
I'll gang as far as Fate will let me,
An' wi' guid will.

(Can we date this quote?), John Lapraik, The Devil's Answer to the Poet's Address:


lood

lood (comparative looder, superlative loodest)

looder (comparative)
loodest (superlative)

From Middle English loud, lud, from Old English hlūd (“loud, noisy, sounding, sonorous”), from Proto-Germanic *hlūdaz, *hlūþaz (“heard”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱlewtos (“heard, famous”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱlew- (“to hear”). Equivalent to English loud.


ferly

From Middle English fērlī (“astonishing, surprising, unexpected”), from Old English fǣrliċ (“sudden, unexpected”), equivalent to fear + -ly.

Seems ferly fair to all admiring orbs...

1888, Richard Francis Burton, Arabian Nights, volume XV, page 113:


gallus

head

gallus (comparative mair gallus, superlative maist gallus)

mair gallus (comparative)
maist gallus (superlative)

A corruption of gallows, used attributively.

He’s a gallus glib chap that!

1919, Stanley J Weyman, “XIV The Manchester Men”, in The Great House:

Look, what a gallus walk she's got! I've strong suspicions I'll have to get slung to her one of these days.

1848, Benjamin A. Baker, A Glance at New York:

’Twas murmur we did for a gallus potion would rouse a friar, I’m thinking, and he limp from leching.

(obsolete) fit to be hanged; wicked; mischievous


lyart

Yet, mony a reverend lyart pow, / Wha ne'er thocht muckle o' its jow, […]

1853, Walter Watson, Poems and Songs: Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect:

An' when his pow is lyart an' gray He'll bless the Brothock Burn.

1867, George W. Donald, Poems, Ballads, and Songs:

[…] in the lap of a damsel that rode at her rein, on a lyart palfrey […]

(of a horse) having dappled white and grey spots


lyard

In har'st at the shearing, nae swankies are jeering,
Our bansters are wrinkled and lyard and grey:
At a fair or a preaching, nae wooing nae fleetching, […]

1778, Tobias George Smollett, editor, The Critical Review: Or, Annals of Literature:


afflicted

afflicted (comparative mair afflicted, superlative maist afflicted)

mair afflicted (comparative)
maist afflicted (superlative)


birkie

birkie (comparative birkier, superlative birkiest)

birkier (comparative)
birkiest (superlative)

Syne the hale kintra's clashes he screeds them aff han'— / He's a gabbin' bit birkie, the Auld Beggar Man.

1835, Robert Nicoll, “The Auld Beggar Man”, in Poems and Lyrics (in English), Edinburgh: William Tait; London: Simpkin, Marshall, and Co.; Dublin: John Cumming, →OCLC, page 11:


hallow

Inherited from Middle Scots hallow, from Middle English holwe.


caller

caller (comparative mair caller, superlative maist caller)

mair caller (comparative)
maist caller (superlative)

From Middle English calver (“interspersed with flakes”), from Old English calwer. Cognate with English calver.

inh

Wha'll buy my caller herrin’, / New drawn frae the Forth? (Caroline Oliphaunt, ‘Caller Herrin'’)


roun

head

roun (comparative rouner, superlative rounest)

rouner (comparative)
rounest (superlative)


ojis

ojis (comparative mair ojis, superlative maist ojis)

mair ojis (comparative)
maist ojis (superlative)

That's ojis (that's great)

He's an ojis eejit (he's a great fool)


sleekit

sleekit (comparative mair sleekit, superlative maist sleekit)

mair sleekit (comparative)
maist sleekit (superlative)

Wee, sleekit, cowran, tim'rous beastie, / O, what panic's in thy breastie!

Little, cunning, cowering, timorous beast, / Oh, what a panic is in your breast!

He's goat a wee sleekit smile oan his face as we go fur it.

2018, Chris McQueer, HWFG, 404Ink 2018, page 12:

He's got a little crafty smile on his face as we go for it.


unspeakable

unspeakable (comparative mair unspeakable, superlative maist unspeakable)

mair unspeakable (comparative)
maist unspeakable (superlative)


Weegie

Alteration of English Glaswegian. See English Weegie.


bricht

bricht (comparative mair bricht, superlative maist bricht)

mair bricht (comparative)
maist bricht (superlative)

From Middle English bright, briht, from Old English beorht (Northumbrian breht), from Proto-West Germanic *berht, from Proto-Germanic *berhtaz.


gare

gare (comparative mair gare, superlative maist gare)

mair gare (comparative)
maist gare (superlative)


sooth

From Middle English south, from Old English sūþ.


strang

strang (comparative stranger, superlative strangest)

stranger (comparative)
strangest (superlative)


wrang

wrang (comparative mair wrang, superlative maist wrang)

mair wrang (comparative)
maist wrang (superlative)


verra

From Middle English, from Old French verai (“true”). Compare English very.


weel

weel (comparative better, superlative best)


carnaptious

carnaptious (comparative mair carnaptious, superlative maist carnaptious)

mair carnaptious (comparative)
maist carnaptious (superlative)

car- + nap + -ious.
* Source: Dictionary of the Scots Language


broon

broon (comparative mair broon, superlative maist broon)

mair broon (comparative)
maist broon (superlative)

From Middle English broun, from Old English brūn (“brown; dark; dusky”), from Proto-Germanic *brūnaz.


glaikit

glaikit (comparative mair glaikit, superlative maist glaikit)

mair glaikit (comparative)
maist glaikit (superlative)

Whattan ane glaikit fool am I / To slay myself with melancholy.

Her wee glaikit boyfriend just sits there starin intae space as wan ae the weans batters at his knee wi a wee toy motor.

2018, Chris McQueer, HWFG, 404Ink, published 2018, page 5:


shan

shan (comparative shanner, superlative shannest)

shanner (comparative)
shannest (superlative)

Borrowed from Scottish Cant, possibly originally from Scottish Gaelic sean (“old”).


ower

That's ower much for mei, like!


nain

nain (comparative mair nain, superlative maist nain)

mair nain (comparative)
maist nain (superlative)

From the prothetic n- + ain, from the wrong division of mine ain as my nain.

He was my nain bairn.


auld

auld (comparative aulder, superlative auldest)

aulder (comparative)
auldest (superlative)

Doric Scots, Southern Scots, cat-caught merger

From Northern Middle English auld, aulde, awld, awlde, ald, alde, from Northumbrian Old English ald, variant of Old English eald (“old, mature, venerable; antique, ancient, primeval”), from Proto-West Germanic *ald, from Proto-Germanic *aldaz (“grown up; old”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eltós (“grown, nourished, matured”). Compare cognate Latin altus (“nourished, raised, grown; tall”).


pished

head

pished (comparative mair pished, superlative maist pished)

mair pished (comparative)
maist pished (superlative)


guid

guid (comparative better, superlative best)

From Middle English gude, goude, goode, from Old English gōd, from Proto-Germanic *gōdaz, from Proto-Indo-European *gʰedʰ- (“to join, to unite”).

guid-gaun

in good working order, active, lively, flourishing

guidwife

wife, the mistress of a house, a landlady of an inn


begrutten

head

begrutten (comparative mair begrutten, superlative maist begrutten)

mair begrutten (comparative)
maist begrutten (superlative)

Past participle of begrete (“to beweep”), equivalent to be- + grete.


mair

From northern Middle English mare, from Old English māra (compare English more, and German mehr), from Proto-Germanic *maizô.


maist

From Old English mǣst (“most”). More at most.

maistlins

almost, well nigh; for the most part, mostly

maistly

mostly, almost, nearly; most of all, especially


dowie

dowie (comparative dowier, superlative dowiest)

dowier (comparative)
dowiest (superlative)

Uncertain; probably ultimately related to dull.

There was no comfort in the goodliness of spring or the bright sunshine weather, and she who had been wont to go about the doors lightfoot and blithe was now as dowie as a widow woman.

1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:


aff

aff (comparative mair aff, superlative maist aff)

mair aff (comparative)
maist aff (superlative)

From Middle English off, from Old English of, af, æf (“from, off, away”), from Proto-West Germanic *ab.


byordinar

byordinar (comparative mair byordinar, superlative maist byordinar)

mair byordinar (comparative)
maist byordinar (superlative)


sweirt

sweirt (comparative mair sweirt, superlative maist sweirt)

mair sweirt (comparative)
maist sweirt (superlative)


muckit

muckit (comparative mair muckit, superlative maist muckit)

mair muckit (comparative)
maist muckit (superlative)


norlin

norlin (comparative mair norlin, superlative maist norlin)

mair norlin (comparative)
maist norlin (superlative)


Inglis

Inglis (comparative mair Inglis, superlative maist Inglis)

mair Inglis (comparative)
maist Inglis (superlative)


awfu

awfu (comparative mair awfu, superlative awfuest)

mair awfu (comparative)
awfuest (superlative)

The wather's awfu, is it no?


peerie

peerie (comparative peerier, superlative peeriest)

peerier (comparative)
peeriest (superlative)


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.


drublie

drublie (comparative drublier, superlative drubliest)

drublier (comparative)
drubliest (superlative)

From Middle English drubly, from Old English drōfliċ (“agitated; disturbed; troublesome; irksome; sad”), probably influenced by obsolete Middle English trouble (adjective). Cognate with English drubly.

inh

In to thir dark and drublie dayis, / When sable all the heavens arrayis.


dule

head

dule (comparative duler, superlative dulest)

duler (comparative)
dulest (superlative)

From Old French dol or doel (“anguish”), from Vulgar Latin dolus, from Latin dolēre (“to grieve”). Later influenced by or reborrowed from early Middle English dool. Cognate with English dole. Compare modern French deuil (“mourning”).

My dule spreit dois lurk for schoir.

15th century, William Dunbar, Meditation In Winter (poem):


immis

immis (comparative mair immis, superlative maist immis)

mair immis (comparative)
maist immis (superlative)

changeable; gloomy, misty (of weather etc.)


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.


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)


weirdly

weirdly (comparative mair weirdly, superlative maist weirdly)

mair weirdly (comparative)
maist weirdly (superlative)

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


cannei

cannei (comparative mair cannei, superlative maist cannei)

mair cannei (comparative)
maist cannei (superlative)


fasht

He wis gye fasht wi ye

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


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.'


nocht

nocht (comparative mair nocht, superlative maist nocht)

mair nocht (comparative)
maist nocht (superlative)

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


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)


gyte

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

the gudeman's gane clean gyte, I think.

1818 July 25, Jedadiah Cleishbotham [pseudonym; Walter Scott], Tales of My Landlord, Second Series, […] (The Heart of Mid-Lothian), volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Company, →OCLC:

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


cuntit

head

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.


bowkin

bowkin (comparative mair bowkin, superlative maist bowkin)

mair bowkin (comparative)
maist bowkin (superlative)

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


bealin

bealin (comparative mair bealin, superlative maist bealin)

mair bealin (comparative)
maist bealin (superlative)


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.


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.


kich

kich (comparative mair kich, superlative maist kich)

mair kich (comparative)
maist kich (superlative)

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

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


kichie

kichie (comparative mair kichie, superlative maist kichie)

mair kichie (comparative)
maist kichie (superlative)


blae

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


laigh

laigh (comparative laigher, superlative laighest)

laigher (comparative)
laighest (superlative)


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”).


teet

teet (comparative mair teet, superlative maist teet)

mair teet (comparative)
maist teet (superlative)


awfi

awfi (comparative mair awfi, superlative awfist)

mair awfi (comparative)
awfist (superlative)

The weather's awfi, inteet?


awfih

awfih (comparative mair awfih, superlative maist awfih)

mair awfih (comparative)
maist awfih (superlative)

(Southern Scots) Variant spelling of awfi.


saicond

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


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)


apen

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”).


cauld

head

cauld (comparative caulder, superlative cauldest)

caulder (comparative)
cauldest (superlative)


soond

soond (comparative mair soond, superlative maist soond)

mair soond (comparative)
maist soond (superlative)


wudden

wudden (comparative mair wudden, superlative maist wudden)

mair wudden (comparative)
maist wudden (superlative)


raigular

raigular (comparative mair raigular, superlative maist raigular)

mair raigular (comparative)
maist raigular (superlative)


ineetial

ineetial (comparative mair ineetial, superlative maist ineetial)

mair ineetial (comparative)
maist ineetial (superlative)


auncient

auncient (comparative mair auncient, superlative maist auncient)

mair auncient (comparative)
maist auncient (superlative)


naitural

naitural (comparative mair naitural, superlative maist naitural)

mair naitural (comparative)
maist naitural (superlative)


wastren

wastren (comparative mair wastren, superlative maist wastren)

mair wastren (comparative)
maist wastren (superlative)


smaa

smaa (comparative smaaer, superlative smaaest)

smaaer (comparative)
smaaest (superlative)


offeecal

offeecal (comparative mair offeecal, superlative maist offeecal)

mair offeecal (comparative)
maist offeecal (superlative)


shooglie

shooglie (comparative mair shooglie, superlative maist shooglie)

mair shooglie (comparative)
maist shooglie (superlative)


wirth

wirth (comparative mair wirth, superlative maist wirth)

mair wirth (comparative)
maist wirth (superlative)

wanwirth

a bargain, of little value, worthless, unworthy


crabbit

crabbit (comparative mair crabbit, superlative maist crabbit)

mair crabbit (comparative)
maist crabbit (superlative)


fechtit

fechtit (comparative mair fechtit, superlative maist fechtit)

mair fechtit (comparative)
maist fechtit (superlative)


clarty

clarty (comparative mair clarty, superlative maist clarty)

mair clarty (comparative)
maist clarty (superlative)


laist

laist (comparative mair laist, superlative maist laist)

mair laist (comparative)
maist laist (superlative)


hailsome

hailsome (comparative mair hailsome, superlative maist hailsome)

mair hailsome (comparative)
maist hailsome (superlative)


athort

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


heich

heich (comparative heicher, superlative heichest)

heicher (comparative)
heichest (superlative)

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


scienteefic

scienteefic (comparative mair scienteefic, superlative maist scienteefic)

mair scienteefic (comparative)
maist scienteefic (superlative)


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.


tradeetional

tradeetional (comparative mair tradeetional, superlative maist tradeetional)

mair tradeetional (comparative)
maist tradeetional (superlative)


meaninless

meaninless (comparative mair meaninless, superlative maist meaninless)

mair meaninless (comparative)
maist meaninless (superlative)


deid

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


howfin

howfin (comparative mair howfin, superlative maist howfin)

mair howfin (comparative)
maist howfin (superlative)


yellih

yellih (comparative mair yellih, superlative maist yellih)

mair yellih (comparative)
maist yellih (superlative)


yelli

yelli (comparative mair yelli, superlative maist yelli)

mair yelli (comparative)
maist yelli (superlative)

yelli:


reid

reid (comparative mair reid, superlative maist reid)

mair reid (comparative)
maist reid (superlative)

reid:


bleck

bleck (comparative blecker, superlative bleckest)

blecker (comparative)
bleckest (superlative)

bleck:


derk

derk (comparative derker, superlative derkest)

derker (comparative)
derkest (superlative)


halie

halie (comparative mair halie, superlative maist halie)

mair halie (comparative)
maist halie (superlative)


daurk

daurk (comparative mair daurk, superlative maist daurk)

mair daurk (comparative)
maist daurk (superlative)


supernaitural

supernaitural (comparative mair supernaitural, superlative maist supernaitural)

mair supernaitural (comparative)
maist supernaitural (superlative)


naurby

naurby (comparative mair naurby, superlative maist naurby)

mair naurby (comparative)
maist naurby (superlative)


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.


kirkit

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


tappit

tappit (comparative mair tappit, superlative maist tappit)

mair tappit (comparative)
maist tappit (superlative)


etri

etri (comparative mair etri, superlative maist etri)

mair etri (comparative)
maist etri (superlative)


kenspeckle

kenspeckle (comparative mair kenspeckle, superlative maist kenspeckle)

mair kenspeckle (comparative)
maist kenspeckle (superlative)


cutty

cutty (comparative mair cutty, superlative maist cutty)

mair cutty (comparative)
maist cutty (superlative)


vauntie

vauntie (comparative mair vauntie, superlative maist vauntie)

mair vauntie (comparative)
maist vauntie (superlative)


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


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.


peshed

head

peshed (comparative mair peshed, superlative maist peshed)

mair peshed (comparative)
maist peshed (superlative)

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


gude

gude (comparative mair gude, superlative maist gude)

mair gude (comparative)
maist gude (superlative)


cozie

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


coorse

coorse (comparative mair coorse, superlative maist coorse)

mair coorse (comparative)
maist coorse (superlative)

Dinna be coorse or ah'll skelp yer dowp!


aisy

aisy (comparative mair aisy, superlative maist aisy)

mair aisy (comparative)
maist aisy (superlative)


fift

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


sweer

sweer (comparative mair sweer, superlative maist sweer)

mair sweer (comparative)
maist sweer (superlative)


dreich in the draw

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


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.'

(please add an English translation of this quotation)

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


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


back-end

back-end ingineer

back-end programmin

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


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:


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


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.


mingin

mingin (comparative mair mingin, superlative maist mingin)

mair mingin (comparative)
maist mingin (superlative)

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


drumlie

drumlie (comparative mair drumlie, superlative maist drumlie)

mair drumlie (comparative)
maist drumlie (superlative)

Ye banks, and braes, and ſtreams around / The caſtle of Montgomery, / Green be your woods, and fair your flowers, / Your waters never drumlie!

1791, Robert Burns, “Ye Banks, and Braes, and Streams around. Air.—Katharine Ogie.”, in Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, volume I, Kilmarnock, Scotland: […] John Wilson, published 1886, →OCLC; reprinted Kilmarnock, Scotland: […] James M‘Kie, 1867, →OCLC, page 77:


tuithless

tuithless (comparative mair tuithless, superlative maist tuithless)

mair tuithless (comparative)
maist tuithless (superlative)


soun

soun (comparative souner, superlative sounest)

souner (comparative)
sounest (superlative)

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


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.


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)


laith

laith (comparative mair laith, superlative maist laith)

mair laith (comparative)
maist laith (superlative)

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


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.


yella

yella (comparative mair yella, superlative maist yella)

mair yella (comparative)
maist yella (superlative)


fashious

fashious (comparative mair fashious, superlative maist fashious)

mair fashious (comparative)
maist fashious (superlative)


girnie

girnie (comparative girnier, superlative girniest)

girnier (comparative)
girniest (superlative)


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:


knackie

knackie (comparative knackier, superlative knackiest)

knackier (comparative)
knackiest (superlative)


nacky

nacky (comparative nackier, superlative nackiest)

nackier (comparative)
nackiest (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


preceese

preceese (comparative mair preceese, superlative maist preceese)

mair preceese (comparative)
maist preceese (superlative)


roond

roond (comparative roonder, superlative roondest)

roonder (comparative)
roondest (superlative)

From Middle English rounde, from Old French reont.


roon

roon (comparative rooner, superlative roonest)

rooner (comparative)
roonest (superlative)


gowd

gowd (comparative mair gowd, superlative maist gowd)

mair gowd (comparative)
maist gowd (superlative)

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”).


goold

head

goold (comparative mair goold, superlative maist goold)

mair goold (comparative)
maist goold (superlative)


saft

saft (comparative safter, superlative saftest)

safter (comparative)
saftest (superlative)

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


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


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:


siclike

Yet e'en the ha' folk till their pechan
Wi' sauce, ragouts, and siclike trashtrie

1786, Robert Burns, The Twa Dogs:A Tale:


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).


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)


moy

moy (comparative mair moy, superlative maist moy)

mair moy (comparative)
maist moy (superlative)

Inherited 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”).


sture

head

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.


queem

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


baney

head

baney (comparative mair baney, superlative maist baney)

mair baney (comparative)
maist baney (superlative)


cliver

cliver (comparative cliverer, superlative cliverest)

cliverer (comparative)
cliverest (superlative)


weirlike

weirlike (comparative mair weirlike, superlative maist weirlike)

mair weirlike (comparative)
maist weirlike (superlative)


deeficult

deeficult (comparative mair deeficult, superlative maist deeficult)

mair deeficult (comparative)
maist deeficult (superlative)


uisefu

uisefu (comparative mair uisefu, superlative maist uisefu)

mair uisefu (comparative)
maist uisefu (superlative)


modren

modren (comparative mair modren, superlative maist modren)

mair modren (comparative)
maist modren (superlative)

From late Middle English modern, from Late Latin modernus.


roch

roch (comparative mair roch, superlative maist roch)

mair roch (comparative)
maist roch (superlative)

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

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

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

(agriculture, of sheep) unshorn, unclipped


faur

faur (comparative mair faur, superlative maist faur)

mair faur (comparative)
maist faur (superlative)


bammy

bammy (comparative bammier, superlative bammiest)

bammier (comparative)
bammiest (superlative)

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

1999, David Armstrong, The First Teenagers, page 22:

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

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

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

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


faw

faw (comparative mair faw, superlative maist faw)

mair faw (comparative)
maist faw (superlative)

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


deef

head

deef (comparative mair deef, superlative maist deef)

mair deef (comparative)
maist deef (superlative)

From Middle English deaf, from Old English dēaf.


siller

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


ceevil

ceevil (comparative mair ceevil, superlative maist ceevil)

mair ceevil (comparative)
maist ceevil (superlative)


respeckit

respeckit (comparative mair respeckit, superlative maist respeckit)

mair respeckit (comparative)
maist respeckit (superlative)


disrepitable

disrepitable (comparative mair disrepitable, superlative maist disrepitable)

mair disrepitable (comparative)
maist disrepitable (superlative)


driegh

driegh (comparative mair driegh, superlative maist driegh)

mair driegh (comparative)
maist driegh (superlative)


peetiful

peetiful (comparative mair peetiful, superlative maist peetiful)

mair peetiful (comparative)
maist peetiful (superlative)


wankle

wankle (comparative mair wankle, superlative maist wankle)

mair wankle (comparative)
maist wankle (superlative)

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

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


thrang

thrang (comparative mair thrang, superlative maist thrang)

mair thrang (comparative)
maist thrang (superlative)

→ Scottish Gaelic: trang


ourie

ourie (comparative mair ourie, superlative maist ourie)

mair ourie (comparative)
maist ourie (superlative)

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

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

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

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


aefauld

aefauld (comparative mair aefauld, superlative maist aefauld)

mair aefauld (comparative)
maist aefauld (superlative)

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

inh

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

1875, John Watson, Samples of Common Sense:

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

(rare, not comparable) one; single, unitary

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

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

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


deligent

Sen sic ane mychty king and lorde as he / To fast and pray was so obedient, / We synfull folk sulde be more deligent.

after 1513, William Dunbar, "The Maner of Passing to Confessioun", in Of Luve Erdly and Divine, in an 1834 collection edited by David Laing, The poems of William Dunbar, now first collected. With notes, and a memoir of his life. Volume first, page 225

I reid the, man, of thi transgressioun / With all thi hert that thou be penitent.

[…] and my Lordis facilite one the uther pairt; quhairfoir be ye deligent and waikryf; and gyf my Lord cumis nocht haistaly heir, bot is in purpois to remaine thair , labour ye, and caus for to labour, that my lord send about me to[…]

1561 August, Frances Boitwall, letter, quoted in 1834, Mark Napier, Memoirs of John Napier of Merchiston: His Lineage, Life, and Times, with a History of the Invention of Logarithms, page 76

[…] ordanis the prouest baillies and counsale of the said burgh to mak deligent serche and inquisitioun gyf thair be ony within thair jurisdictioun that ar apperand to attempt or to be auctouris of seditioun tymult or rebellioun within […]

1573-1589, Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Edinburgh: a.d. 1573-1589 (published 1875), page 137


guidwilly

head

guidwilly (comparative mair guidwilly, superlative maist guidwilly)

mair guidwilly (comparative)
maist guidwilly (superlative)

kindly, hearty, cordial, generous, open-handed


laich

laich (comparative mair laich, superlative maist laich)

mair laich (comparative)
maist laich (superlative)

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


to-worne

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

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

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


airish

airish (comparative mair airish, superlative maist airish)

mair airish (comparative)
maist airish (superlative)


tenty

tenty (comparative mair tenty, superlative maist tenty)

mair tenty (comparative)
maist tenty (superlative)


weanish

weanish (comparative mair weanish, superlative maist weanish)

mair weanish (comparative)
maist weanish (superlative)


frammit

frammit (comparative mair frammit, superlative maist frammit)

mair frammit (comparative)
maist frammit (superlative)


forgettle

forgettle (comparative mair forgettle, superlative maist forgettle)

mair forgettle (comparative)
maist forgettle (superlative)

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

Having the tendency to forget; forgetful


forgettil

forgettil (comparative mair forgettil, superlative maist forgettil)

mair forgettil (comparative)
maist forgettil (superlative)


feart

feart (comparative mair feart, superlative maist feart)

mair feart (comparative)
maist feart (superlative)

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

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

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

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


fre

fre (comparative mair fre, superlative maist fre)

mair fre (comparative)
maist fre (superlative)

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


barkit

head

barkit (comparative mair barkit, superlative maist barkit)

mair barkit (comparative)
maist barkit (superlative)


unforholden

unforholden (comparative mair unforholden, superlative maist unforholden)

mair unforholden (comparative)
maist unforholden (superlative)

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

der

1666, Culross

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

Not detained; uncancelled; not suspended.


fause

head

fause (comparative mair fause, superlative maist fause)

mair fause (comparative)
maist fause (superlative)

From Middle English faus, from Old English fals.

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


ewest

ewest (comparative mair ewest, superlative maist ewest)

mair ewest (comparative)
maist ewest (superlative)

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


fu'

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

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


kyte-clung

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

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

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

(archaic) Having a sunken belly; starved.


fochten

fochten (comparative mair fochten, superlative maist fochten)

mair fochten (comparative)
maist fochten (superlative)


donnert

donnert (comparative mair donnert, superlative maist donnert)

mair donnert (comparative)
maist donnert (superlative)


strecht

strecht (comparative strechter, superlative strechtest)

strechter (comparative)
strechtest (superlative)


warkand

warkand (comparative mair warkand, superlative maist warkand)

mair warkand (comparative)
maist warkand (superlative)

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


hempy

hempy (comparative mair hempy, superlative maist hempy)

mair hempy (comparative)
maist hempy (superlative)


fremed

fremed (comparative mair fremed, superlative maist fremed)

mair fremed (comparative)
maist fremed (superlative)


donnered

donnered (comparative mair donnered, superlative maist donnered)

mair donnered (comparative)
maist donnered (superlative)

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

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

"Why, ye donnered auld runt, how else would I ken?" cried Alan.

1886 May 1 – July 31, Robert Louis Stevenson, “I Come into My Kingdom”, in Kidnapped, being Memoirs of the Adventures of David Balfour in the Year 1751: […] (in English), London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 1886, →OCLC, page 302:


donnard

donnard (comparative mair donnard, superlative maist donnard)

mair donnard (comparative)
maist donnard (superlative)


gype

gype (comparative mair gype, superlative maist gype)

mair gype (comparative)
maist gype (superlative)


gypit

gypit (comparative mair gypit, superlative maist gypit)

mair gypit (comparative)
maist gypit (superlative)


yeld

yeld (comparative mair yeld, superlative maist yeld)

mair yeld (comparative)
maist yeld (superlative)

English: yell

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

der

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


fendie

English: fendy


menseless

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


firren

head

firren (comparative mair firren, superlative maist firren)

mair firren (comparative)
maist firren (superlative)


hame-drauchtit

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

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


hamle

hamle (comparative mair hamle, superlative maist hamle)

mair hamle (comparative)
maist hamle (superlative)


hamelt

hamelt (comparative mair hamelt, superlative maist hamelt)

mair hamelt (comparative)
maist hamelt (superlative)

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

vernacular, in the native tongue (of speech)

homely, familiar, plain, unaffected, simple


eild

From Early Scots ȝeild, from Old English ʒelde.

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


birken

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

inh

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

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

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

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


benty

head

benty (comparative mair benty, superlative maist benty)

mair benty (comparative)
maist benty (superlative)


siccar

siccar (comparative mair siccar, superlative maist siccar)

mair siccar (comparative)
maist siccar (superlative)


stey

stey (comparative steyer, superlative steyest)

steyer (comparative)
steyest (superlative)

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


heivenly

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

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

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


shilpit

shilpit (comparative mair shilpit, superlative maist shilpit)

mair shilpit (comparative)
maist shilpit (superlative)

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

1942, Maurine Whipple, The Giant Joshua:

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


glunch

glunch (comparative mair glunch, superlative maist glunch)

mair glunch (comparative)
maist glunch (superlative)

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

1816, Sir Walter Scott, The Antiquary, Volume 1:


bightsome

bightsome (comparative mair bightsome, superlative maist bightsome)

mair bightsome (comparative)
maist bightsome (superlative)

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

der

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

1958, David Daiches, The present age in British literature:

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

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


daimen

head

daimen (comparative mair daimen, superlative maist daimen)

mair daimen (comparative)
maist daimen (superlative)


caur

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


ill-speakin

head

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

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


fair-spoken

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

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


browden

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1597, Alexander Montgomery, The Cherrie and the Slae:


derf

derf (comparative mair derf, superlative maist derf)

mair derf (comparative)
maist derf (superlative)

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


feuchten

head

feuchten (comparative mair feuchten, superlative maist feuchten)

mair feuchten (comparative)
maist feuchten (superlative)


buirdly

buirdly (comparative mair buirdly, superlative maist buirdly)

mair buirdly (comparative)
maist buirdly (superlative)

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


antrin

antrin (comparative mair antrin, superlative maist antrin)

mair antrin (comparative)
maist antrin (superlative)


farrand

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

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


capernoity

capernoity (comparative mair capernoity, superlative maist capernoity)

mair capernoity (comparative)
maist capernoity (superlative)


nochtie

nochtie (comparative mair nochtie, superlative maist nochtie)

mair nochtie (comparative)
maist nochtie (superlative)


fechtie

fechtie (comparative mair fechtie, superlative maist fechtie)

mair fechtie (comparative)
maist fechtie (superlative)


haly

haly (comparative halier, superlative haliest)

halier (comparative)
haliest (superlative)

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

der

uphaly nicht

the evening of the Epiphany, twelfth-night


langsome

head

langsome (comparative mair langsome, superlative maist langsome)

mair langsome (comparative)
maist langsome (superlative)

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


aiger

aiger (comparative mair aiger, superlative maist aiger)

mair aiger (comparative)
maist aiger (superlative)


smuith

smuith (comparative mair smuith, superlative maist smuith)

mair smuith (comparative)
maist smuith (superlative)

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


big-luggit

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

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

/ˈbɪɡ-lʌɡɪt/

/ˈbɪɡ-lʌɡəi/


banie

banie (comparative banier, superlative baniest)

banier (comparative)
baniest (superlative)


near the bane

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

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


hurklin

hurklin (comparative mair hurklin, superlative maist hurklin)

mair hurklin (comparative)
maist hurklin (superlative)


blainy

blainy (comparative mair blainy, superlative maist blainy)

mair blainy (comparative)
maist blainy (superlative)

Patchy; covered with bare spots; filled with holes.


bowsome

bowsome (comparative mair bowsome, superlative maist bowsome)

mair bowsome (comparative)
maist bowsome (superlative)

⇒ English: unbowsome

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

der

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


haiverel

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


donsie

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


donsy

head

donsy (comparative mair donsy, superlative maist donsy)

mair donsy (comparative)
maist donsy (superlative)


guidless

guidless (comparative mair guidless, superlative maist guidless)

mair guidless (comparative)
maist guidless (superlative)

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


hempie

hempie (comparative mair hempie, superlative maist hempie)

mair hempie (comparative)
maist hempie (superlative)

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

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


wanweirdly

wanweirdly (comparative mair wanweirdly, superlative maist wanweirdly)

mair wanweirdly (comparative)
maist wanweirdly (superlative)


weirdless

weirdless (comparative mair weirdless, superlative maist weirdless)

mair weirdless (comparative)
maist weirdless (superlative)

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

suffix

unfortunate, ill-fated, inept, incapable


weirdfu

head

weirdfu (comparative mair weirdfu, superlative maist weirdfu)

mair weirdfu (comparative)
maist weirdfu (superlative)

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


guidly

head

guidly (comparative guidlier, superlative guidliest)

guidlier (comparative)
guidliest (superlative)

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


guidwillt

guidwillt (comparative mair guidwillt, superlative maist guidwillt)

mair guidwillt (comparative)
maist guidwillt (superlative)


thrimmelt

thrimmelt (comparative mair thrimmelt, superlative maist thrimmelt)

mair thrimmelt (comparative)
maist thrimmelt (superlative)


birsie

birsie (comparative birsier, superlative birsiest)

birsier (comparative)
birsiest (superlative)

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


wirthy

head

wirthy (comparative wirthier, superlative wirthiest)

wirthier (comparative)
wirthiest (superlative)


sautie

sautie (comparative sautier, superlative sautiest)

sautier (comparative)
sautiest (superlative)


tawtie

tawtie (comparative mair tawtie, superlative maist tawtie)

mair tawtie (comparative)
maist tawtie (superlative)


awd

awd (comparative mair awd, superlative maist awd)

mair awd (comparative)
maist awd (superlative)


byous

byous (comparative mair byous, superlative maist byous)

mair byous (comparative)
maist byous (superlative)


fairdy

fairdy (comparative mair fairdy, superlative maist fairdy)

mair fairdy (comparative)
maist fairdy (superlative)


bruckle

bruckle (comparative mair bruckle, superlative maist bruckle)

mair bruckle (comparative)
maist bruckle (superlative)

(poetic) Unstable, uncertain, unsettled.


bruiky

bruiky (comparative mair bruiky, superlative maist bruiky)

mair bruiky (comparative)
maist bruiky (superlative)

(archaic) Grimy or dirty, especially when referring to soot.


caif

caif (comparative mair caif, superlative maist caif)

mair caif (comparative)
maist caif (superlative)

(archaic) tame (particularly when referring to birds).


fantoush

fantoush (comparative mair fantoush, superlative maist fantoush)

mair fantoush (comparative)
maist fantoush (superlative)


fairce

fairce (comparative faircer, superlative faircest)

faircer (comparative)
faircest (superlative)

From Early Scots fers, from Old French fers, from Latin ferus (“untamed”).


frenfi

frenfi (comparative mair frenfi, superlative maist frenfi)

mair frenfi (comparative)
maist frenfi (superlative)


libbit

From the past participle of lib, libb (“to castrate”).


tacht

From Middle English taught, toȝt (“tight, distended”). Cognate with English taut.

Tight; tense; close; stretched out; tightened.


siccan

"Did ye ever have occasion tae fire a pistol, Israel?"
"Godsakes!" says I, "I never had siccan a thing in my honds in my life."

1889, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Mystery of Cloomber:


throughither

throughither (comparative mair throughither, superlative maist throughither)

mair throughither (comparative)
maist throughither (superlative)


waesome

waesome (comparative mair waesome, superlative maist waesome)

mair waesome (comparative)
maist waesome (superlative)


fauch

Old Scots faulch, from Old English fealh "fallow land".


aiken

From Middle English aken, from Old English ǣcen, from Proto-West Germanic *aikīn; equivalent to aik + -en.


ferlie

ferlie (comparative mair ferlie, superlative maist ferlie)

mair ferlie (comparative)
maist ferlie (superlative)


waeful

waeful (comparative mair waeful, superlative maist waeful)

mair waeful (comparative)
maist waeful (superlative)


lairdly

lairdly (comparative mair lairdly, superlative maist lairdly)

mair lairdly (comparative)
maist lairdly (superlative)


lanely

lanely (comparative mair lanely, superlative maist lanely)

mair lanely (comparative)
maist lanely (superlative)


misleared

misleared (comparative mair misleared, superlative maist misleared)

mair misleared (comparative)
maist misleared (superlative)


hathill

hathill (comparative mair hathill, superlative maist hathill)

mair hathill (comparative)
maist hathill (superlative)

From Middle English hathil, hathell, hathel, haþel (“noble”), from a conflation of Old English hæleþ (“man, hero, warrior”) and æþel (“noble”).


athill

head

athill (comparative mair athill, superlative maist athill)

mair athill (comparative)
maist athill (superlative)

From Middle English athele, ethele, from Old English æþele (“noble”), from Proto-Germanic *aþalaz (“noble”).


waukrife

waukrife (comparative mair waukrife, superlative maist waukrife)

mair waukrife (comparative)
maist waukrife (superlative)


brizzed

brizzed (comparative mair brizzed, superlative maist brizzed)

mair brizzed (comparative)
maist brizzed (superlative)


alang

alang (comparative further, superlative furthest)

further (comparative)
furthest (superlative)


prejink

prejink (comparative mair prejink, superlative maist prejink)

mair prejink (comparative)
maist prejink (superlative)

(obsolete) trim; dapper; fancily dressed


foosty

foosty (comparative mair foosty, superlative maist foosty)

mair foosty (comparative)
maist foosty (superlative)

From Old French fust (“wood”) (modern French fût), from Latin fustis (“a cudgel”).

Becoming or smelling mouldy or stale, as wet laundry or wood becomes without proper drying


tedisome

tedisome (comparative mair tedisome, superlative maist tedisome)

mair tedisome (comparative)
maist tedisome (superlative)

Oh, it wis an awfy seeckenin' job, singling. It wis tedisome. Ye ken, ye're jist gaun like this - in and out wi' the how - a ' the time.

His principal business, seemin'ly, was to lay wreaths on monuments, and inspeck guards of honour, and pin decorations on veterans: it was the same wherever he went: gey tedisome, I would jalouse.

2008, Catherine Ponton Slater, Marget Pow:


saikless

saikless (comparative mair saikless, superlative maist saikless)

mair saikless (comparative)
maist saikless (superlative)

From Middle English sakles, sacless (“innocent”), from Old English saclēas (“free from charge, innocent, safe”), from Proto-Germanic *sakalausaz (“free from accusation”).


wakerife

head

wakerife (comparative mair wakerife, superlative maist wakerife)

mair wakerife (comparative)
maist wakerife (superlative)


ramstam

ramstam (comparative mair ramstam, superlative maist ramstam)

mair ramstam (comparative)
maist ramstam (superlative)


kittly

kittly (comparative mair kittly, superlative maist kittly)

mair kittly (comparative)
maist kittly (superlative)

Difficult; hard to understand; mysterious.


sweir

sweir (comparative mair sweir, superlative maist sweir)

mair sweir (comparative)
maist sweir (superlative)

From Middle English swere, sware, from Old English swǣr (“heavy; grievous; dull”), from Proto-West Germanic *swār, from Proto-Germanic *swēraz.

inh

unwilling; disinclined; reluctant; loath


hawkit

Of cattle: having a white face, or white spots or streaks.


hellicat

head

hellicat (comparative mair hellicat, superlative maist hellicat)

mair hellicat (comparative)
maist hellicat (superlative)


ilkaday

everyday; not reserved for a special occasion


waik

waik (comparative waiker, superlative waikest)

waiker (comparative)
waikest (superlative)


ae-fauld

ae-fauld (comparative mair ae-fauld, superlative maist ae-fauld)

mair ae-fauld (comparative)
maist ae-fauld (superlative)


laithly

laithly (comparative mair laithly, superlative maist laithly)

mair laithly (comparative)
maist laithly (superlative)


dowfart

dowfart (comparative mair dowfart, superlative maist dowfart)

mair dowfart (comparative)
maist dowfart (superlative)

(obsolete) stupid; spiritless; inefficient


camsteary

camsteary (comparative mair camsteary, superlative maist camsteary)

mair camsteary (comparative)
maist camsteary (superlative)


tapsalteerie

tapsalteerie (comparative mair tapsalteerie, superlative maist tapsalteerie)

mair tapsalteerie (comparative)
maist tapsalteerie (superlative)

And war'ly cares and war'ly men, / May a' gae tapsalterie, O;

1783, Robert Burns, Green grow the Rashes, O:


froading

froading (comparative mair froading, superlative maist froading)

mair froading (comparative)
maist froading (superlative)

Carrying da tinnie about twappirt of froadin' mylk.

(dialectal, Northern Isles) Foaming; frothing.


seik

seik (comparative mair seik, superlative maist seik)

mair seik (comparative)
maist seik (superlative)


skyrin

skyrin (comparative mair skyrin, superlative maist skyrin)

mair skyrin (comparative)
maist skyrin (superlative)


liesome

liesome (comparative mair liesome, superlative maist liesome)

mair liesome (comparative)
maist liesome (superlative)

"My bairn, my bairn, make no rash promises, but compose yourself," said Mary, "and look as if naught had happened, for here comes one who can see nothing without describing it, hear nothing without relating it, and do neither without making the very truth liesome-like.

[...] “I marvel, John Coulter, that ye can tell an unco man sic liesome tales. [...]”

1841, Thomas Kibble Hervey, Leitch Ritchie, Friendship's Offering:

Marked by lies or lying; having a false appearance; fraudulent; phony


liesome

Alternative form of leesome (“pleasant”)


staggersome

staggersome (comparative mair staggersome, superlative maist staggersome)

mair staggersome (comparative)
maist staggersome (superlative)

The dafter a tale, the mair quickly believed; The madder a prophet, the greater his fame; Nae doctrine's oure staggersome to be received, [...]

1876, William Brockie, The Confessional and Other Poems:


wanwordy

wanwordy (comparative mair wanwordy, superlative maist wanwordy)

mair wanwordy (comparative)
maist wanwordy (superlative)


conceity

conceity (comparative mair conceity, superlative maist conceity)

mair conceity (comparative)
maist conceity (superlative)


crankous

crankous (comparative mair crankous, superlative maist crankous)

mair crankous (comparative)
maist crankous (superlative)


cauldrife

cauldrife (comparative mair cauldrife, superlative maist cauldrife)

mair cauldrife (comparative)
maist cauldrife (superlative)


aigers

aigers (comparative mair aigers, superlative maist aigers)

mair aigers (comparative)
maist aigers (superlative)


wibbit

wibbit (comparative mair wibbit, superlative maist wibbit)

mair wibbit (comparative)
maist wibbit (superlative)


fykesome

fykesome (comparative mair fykesome, superlative maist fykesome)

mair fykesome (comparative)
maist fykesome (superlative)


fifish

fifish (comparative mair fifish, superlative maist fifish)

mair fifish (comparative)
maist fifish (superlative)


primsie

primsie (comparative mair primsie, superlative maist primsie)

mair primsie (comparative)
maist primsie (superlative)


taivert

taivert (comparative mair taivert, superlative maist taivert)

mair taivert (comparative)
maist taivert (superlative)


accoontable

accoontable (comparative mair accoontable, superlative maist accoontable)

mair accoontable (comparative)
maist accoontable (superlative)

Upo’ the tae han’ we’re nae accoontable gin we dinna tak’ an order wi’ them that’s owregyaun the laws o’ the lan’, an’ fleein 7 the vera face o’ Parliament itsel’, lat aleen the grytest nobility i’ the kwintra[…]

1871, William Alexander, Johnny Gibb of Gushetneuk:


ackamy

ackamy (comparative mair ackamy, superlative maist ackamy)

mair ackamy (comparative)
maist ackamy (superlative)


unacquent

unacquent (comparative mair unacquent, superlative maist unacquent)

mair unacquent (comparative)
maist unacquent (superlative)


acteeve

acteeve (comparative mair acteeve, superlative maist acteeve)

mair acteeve (comparative)
maist acteeve (superlative)


unacteeve

unacteeve (comparative mair unacteeve, superlative maist unacteeve)

mair unacteeve (comparative)
maist unacteeve (superlative)


addictit

addictit (comparative mair addictit, superlative maist addictit)

mair addictit (comparative)
maist addictit (superlative)


admeesible

admeesible (comparative mair admeesible, superlative maist admeesible)

mair admeesible (comparative)
maist admeesible (superlative)


aff an on

aff an on (comparative mair aff an on, superlative maist aff an on)

mair aff an on (comparative)
maist aff an on (superlative)


aff in it

aff in it (comparative mair aff in it, superlative maist aff in it)

mair aff in it (comparative)
maist aff in it (superlative)


affuirdable

affuirdable (comparative mair affuirdable, superlative maist affuirdable)

mair affuirdable (comparative)
maist affuirdable (superlative)


agalis

agalis (comparative mair agalis, superlative maist agalis)

mair agalis (comparative)
maist agalis (superlative)

Compare Norwegian agalaus (“wild, unrestrained, immoderate”).


beld

head

beld (comparative belder, superlative beldest)

belder (comparative)
beldest (superlative)


tapsieteerie

tapsieteerie (comparative mair tapsieteerie, superlative maist tapsieteerie)

mair tapsieteerie (comparative)
maist tapsieteerie (superlative)


himpie

himpie (comparative mair himpie, superlative maist himpie)

mair himpie (comparative)
maist himpie (superlative)


notour

notour (comparative mair notour, superlative maist notour)

mair notour (comparative)
maist notour (superlative)


seelie

seelie (comparative mair seelie, superlative maist seelie)

mair seelie (comparative)
maist seelie (superlative)

From Middle English sely, from Old English sǣliġ (“blessed, fortunate”), (also gesǣliġ (“happy, prosperous, blessed, fortunate”)), from Proto-West Germanic *sālīg (“happy”). Equivalent to seil + -ie.


gracefu

head

gracefu (comparative mair gracefu, superlative maist gracefu)

mair gracefu (comparative)
maist gracefu (superlative)

From Middle English graceful; equivalent to grace + -ful. Cognate to English graceful.

How gracefu he looked in dejection.


gizzen

gizzen (comparative mair gizzen, superlative maist gizzen)

mair gizzen (comparative)
maist gizzen (superlative)


auld-farrant

auld-farrant (comparative mair auld-farrant, superlative maist auld-farrant)

mair auld-farrant (comparative)
maist auld-farrant (superlative)

Of a child: precocious; wise beyond one's years.


brammer

"So ye hae grainbairns fa want tae lea thes brammer abode eh?"

2011, Dick Munro, Tales of a Scottish Freewheeler: Historical Fiction Featuring the Scottish and Gaelic Dialog, page 167:


riddy

riddy (comparative mair riddy, superlative maist riddy)

mair riddy (comparative)
maist riddy (superlative)


aist

From Middle English est, from Old English ēast.


aungelic

aungelic (comparative mair aungelic, superlative maist aungelic)

mair aungelic (comparative)
maist aungelic (superlative)

From Middle English angelik, aungillik, aungellike, (also angellich, aungellich > English angelly), from Old English anġelīċ, engellīċ, englelīċ, coalescing with Old French angélique, from Latin angelicus, from Ancient Greek ἀγγελικός (angelikós, “of or for a messenger”), from ἄγγελος (ángelos, “angel”).


fourt

Inherited from Middle English ferthe, from Old English fēorþa, fēowerþa, from Proto-West Germanic *feurþō, from Proto-Germanic *fedurþô.


traiket

head

traiket (comparative mair traiket, superlative maist traiket)

mair traiket (comparative)
maist traiket (superlative)


gaucie

gaucie (comparative mair gaucie, superlative maist gaucie)

mair gaucie (comparative)
maist gaucie (superlative)


capernoited

capernoited (comparative mair capernoited, superlative maist capernoited)

mair capernoited (comparative)
maist capernoited (superlative)


drookit

drookit (comparative mair drookit, superlative maist drookit)

mair drookit (comparative)
maist drookit (superlative)

Her hair was drookit back from her clay-cold brow, her eyes were shut, but in her face there was the peace of a child; it seemed even that her lips were smiling.

1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide:


aishen

aishen (comparative mair aishen, superlative maist aishen)

mair aishen (comparative)
maist aishen (superlative)

From Middle English asshen, from Old English æsċen, equivalent to aish + -en.


onstaandin

onstaandin (comparative mair onstaandin, superlative maist onstaandin)

mair onstaandin (comparative)
maist onstaandin (superlative)


freksit

freksit (comparative mair freksit, superlative maist freksit)

mair freksit (comparative)
maist freksit (superlative)


kirsen

I wiss du wid wap yon joopie awa: hit's no kirsen to be seen.

(Shetland) proper, decent; fit to eat or wear.


skivie

skivie (comparative mair skivie, superlative maist skivie)

mair skivie (comparative)
maist skivie (superlative)


histie

histie (comparative mair histie, superlative maist histie)

mair histie (comparative)
maist histie (superlative)


aiccessible

aiccessible (comparative mair aiccessible, superlative maist aiccessible)

mair aiccessible (comparative)
maist aiccessible (superlative)


aiker

aiker (comparative mair aiker, superlative maist aiker)

mair aiker (comparative)
maist aiker (superlative)

(West Roxburgh) sharp, keen, pointed (of the face)


scroggie

scroggie (comparative mair scroggie, superlative maist scroggie)

mair scroggie (comparative)
maist scroggie (superlative)


hairse

From Middle English hors, hos, from Old English hās, *hārs, from Proto-Germanic *haisaz, *haisraz.


doilt

doilt (comparative mair doilt, superlative maist doilt)

mair doilt (comparative)
maist doilt (superlative)


barmie

barmie (comparative mair barmie, superlative maist barmie)

mair barmie (comparative)
maist barmie (superlative)


trachly

trachly (comparative mair trachly, superlative maist trachly)

mair trachly (comparative)
maist trachly (superlative)


thraward

thraward (comparative mair thraward, superlative maist thraward)

mair thraward (comparative)
maist thraward (superlative)


fantoosh

fantoosh (comparative mair fantoosh, superlative maist fantoosh)

mair fantoosh (comparative)
maist fantoosh (superlative)


eeksie-peeksie

eeksie-peeksie (comparative mair eeksie-peeksie, superlative maist eeksie-peeksie)

mair eeksie-peeksie (comparative)
maist eeksie-peeksie (superlative)

On recoverin' consciousness, my first glower was direckit towards the elders' bucht, an' there I beheld my faither an' his brethren o' the eldership, rakin' at their eeholes, whilk was as muckle as to say, that we were a' eeksie-peeksie for ance.

1868, William Duncan Latto, Tammas Bodkin: or the Humours of a Scottish tailor:


upwart

upwart (comparative mair upwart, superlative maist upwart)

mair upwart (comparative)
maist upwart (superlative)


aefald

aefald (comparative mair aefald, superlative maist aefald)

mair aefald (comparative)
maist aefald (superlative)


daiskit

daiskit (comparative mair daiskit, superlative maist daiskit)

mair daiskit (comparative)
maist daiskit (superlative)


awmichtie

awmichtie (comparative mair awmichtie, superlative maist awmichtie)

mair awmichtie (comparative)
maist awmichtie (superlative)

From Middle English almyghty, from Old English ælmihtig, from Proto-Germanic *alamahtīgaz.


gilteous

gilteous (comparative mair gilteous, superlative maist gilteous)

mair gilteous (comparative)
maist gilteous (superlative)


Cheenese

Cheenese (comparative mair Cheenese, superlative maist Cheenese)

mair Cheenese (comparative)
maist Cheenese (superlative)


abufe

From Middle English above, aboven, abuven, from Old English ābufan, onbufan, from a (“on”) + bufan (“over”).


gressy

From Middle English grasy, equivalent to gress + -y.


saxt

Inherited from Middle English sixte, from Old English siexta, from Proto-Germanic *sehstô.


shauchly

shauchly (comparative mair shauchly, superlative maist shauchly)

mair shauchly (comparative)
maist shauchly (superlative)


glaiket

glaiket (comparative mair glaiket, superlative maist glaiket)

mair glaiket (comparative)
maist glaiket (superlative)


daidly

daidly (comparative mair daidly, superlative maist daidly)

mair daidly (comparative)
maist daidly (superlative)


Eeirish

Eeirish (comparative mair Eeirish, superlative maist Eeirish)

mair Eeirish (comparative)
maist Eeirish (superlative)


Eirish

Eirish (comparative mair Eirish, superlative maist Eirish)

mair Eirish (comparative)
maist Eirish (superlative)

1826 January, David Macbeth Moir, "The Bloody Business"; from "Mansie Wauch's Autobiography" Blackwood's Magazine Vol.19 no.108 p.77

“Tailor Mansie,” quoth Maister Thomas Blister, with a furious cock of his eye; he was a queer Eirish birkie, come owre for his yedication

Had he only been an Eirish Paddy,
An' she a Biddy, he micht ha' hied,
To Maister Dickson, the morn's mornin,
To gie in the names, to ha’ them cried.
But we canna do sic things i’ Scotland
Had he only been an Irish Paddy,

1876, William Brockie, "Beenie Knox" The Confessional and Other Poems p.196 (Sunderland: T. F. Brockie)

To Master Dickson, the morn's morning, to give in the names, to have them cried
But we cannot do such things in Scotland


quader

comparative degree of quad (“bad, wicked”)


gowkit

gowkit (comparative mair gowkit, superlative maist gowkit)

mair gowkit (comparative)
maist gowkit (superlative)


paughty

paughty (comparative mair paughty, superlative maist paughty)

mair paughty (comparative)
maist paughty (superlative)

As ye disown yon paughty dog, / That bears the keys of Peter, / Then swith! an' get a wife to hug,


mankit

mankit (comparative mair mankit, superlative maist mankit)

mair mankit (comparative)
maist mankit (superlative)

From Middle English mankid, past participle of manken (“to mutilate”), from Medieval Latin mancāre; equivalent to mank (“to mutilate”) + -it.


ghaistly

ghaistly (comparative mair ghaistly, superlative maist ghaistly)

mair ghaistly (comparative)
maist ghaistly (superlative)

It lay before him white and ghaistly, with mist blowing in wafts across it and a slow swaying of the tides.


walkrife

walkrife (comparative mair walkrife, superlative maist walkrife)

mair walkrife (comparative)
maist walkrife (superlative)

Alternative form of waukrife (“wakeful”)


abble

Uncertain. Compare colloquial Swedish happla (“to stutter”).


wairsh

wairsh (comparative mair wairsh, superlative maist wairsh)

mair wairsh (comparative)
maist wairsh (superlative)


aboot-gaain

aboot + gaain; Calque of Old Norse umganga (“to go round”).

clq

(Northern Isles) going about, whirling, veering, wandering


yible

head

yible (comparative mair yible, superlative maist yible)

mair yible (comparative)
maist yible (superlative)


akamy

Bugge has suggested an antecedent Norse form afkomi (cf. Norse av-komen, adj., weakly, emaciated). Marw. suggests that it is a corruption of Eng. atomy, a contr. form of anatomy.


forritsome

forritsome (comparative mair forritsome, superlative maist forritsome)

mair forritsome (comparative)
maist forritsome (superlative)


hellisom

hellisom (comparative mair hellisom, superlative maist hellisom)

mair hellisom (comparative)
maist hellisom (superlative)

(Shetland) winsome, amiable; having agreeable manners.


kyufset

kyufset (comparative mair kyufset, superlative maist kyufset)

mair kyufset (comparative)
maist kyufset (superlative)


acquant

From Middle English aqueynten, from Old French acointier, from Early Medieval Latin accognitāre.


ackie

From Middle English actyf; equivalent to ack + -ie.


addickit

addickit (comparative mair addickit, superlative maist addickit)

mair addickit (comparative)
maist addickit (superlative)


owregane

owregane (comparative mair owregane, superlative maist owregane)

mair owregane (comparative)
maist owregane (superlative)


ae-fald

ae-fald (comparative mair ae-fald, superlative maist ae-fald)

mair ae-fald (comparative)
maist ae-fald (superlative)


aesome

aesome (comparative mair aesome, superlative maist aesome)

mair aesome (comparative)
maist aesome (superlative)


aevaliss

aevaliss (comparative mair aevaliss, superlative maist aevaliss)

mair aevaliss (comparative)
maist aevaliss (superlative)

Derived from Old Norse efalauss. The termination -lauss (= -less) has lost its negative force, and given way to -ous, and the meaning of the word has been exactly reversed.


evalos

evalos (comparative mair evalos, superlative maist evalos)

mair evalos (comparative)
maist evalos (superlative)


aivalous

aivalous (comparative mair aivalous, superlative maist aivalous)

mair aivalous (comparative)
maist aivalous (superlative)


afeart

afeart (comparative mair afeart, superlative maist afeart)

mair afeart (comparative)
maist afeart (superlative)


urluch

urluch (comparative mair urluch, superlative maist urluch)

mair urluch (comparative)
maist urluch (superlative)

Ayont the pool I spy'd the lad that fell, / Drouked, and looking unco urluch like: […]

1866, Alexander Ross, Helenore: Or, The Fortunate Shepherdess, page 174:


affgaun

affgaun (comparative mair affgaun, superlative maist affgaun)

mair affgaun (comparative)
maist affgaun (superlative)


aff-gan

aff-gan (comparative mair aff-gan, superlative maist aff-gan)

mair aff-gan (comparative)
maist aff-gan (superlative)


affgain'

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

mair affgain' (comparative)
maist affgain' (superlative)