A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1420, 1597-1638
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Dreich, Dreigh, a. Also: dreiche, drigh. [ME. dregh, dreȝ (dreiȝ) (13th c.), OScand. *dreog-, dreug-, ON. drjúgr.] Extensive; lasting, tedious, tiresome, slow. c1420 Ratis Raving 1191.
He [God] sittis heich And has a balans larg and dreich a1605 Montg. Ch. & Slae 343.
The craig was vgly, stay and dreiche, … I was effrayit to mount so heich a1605 Id. Misc. P. xxxii. 33.
Dreigh riuer marks, with hights and hidden houis, Ar perrilous a1598 Ferg. Prov. (1641) 14 b.
Lata is lang and dreich 1606 Calderwood VIII. 58.
Fearing to be esteemed drigh, nice, or in any way wanting due regard to your Lordship's pleasure 1638 Bk. Pasquils 56.
From typset preachers drunk all night, And dreich againe er day be light, … deliver us
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"Dreich adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/dreich_adj>
