Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1880-1907
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CANTEELAM, CANTEELIM, Kanteelam, n. Ill-natured gossip. [kɑn′tiləm]Ork.(D) 1880 Dennison Orcad. Sk. Bk. 101:
Peur dozened tikes! hid is bit seeldams That coortin t'rives withoot canteelams.Ork. 1907 in Old-Lore Misc., Ork., Sh., etc. I. i. 23:
Canteelim. When a child, and that was not yesterday, I picked up the word from several very old people, and have since used it and heard it frequently used to convey a meaning of innuendo, or a casting up of the past sarcastically.
Phr.: castan kanteelams (on some one), used “of old half-forgotten gossip or slander, ill-natured gossip; recalling such old discreditable incidents or stories so as to irritate some one” (Ork. 1929 Marw.).
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"Canteelam n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/canteelam>
