Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CURST, adj. Sc. usages.
†1. Fierce, vicious. Last Eng. ex. 1727 (N.E.D.).Abd.(D) 1788 J. Skinner Christmass Bawing xxviii. in Caled. Mag. 504:
A curst-like gully and a snack Was made, fowk said, in Fife.
2. “Very cross” (Mry.1 1925; Abd.27 1947; Ags.17 1941).Abd. 1898 J. R. Imray Sandy Todd ix.:
Last ook he wis as curst an ull-naturt's a doug wi' a burnt tail.
Comb.: curst-guts, “a person in an extremely bad temper” (Bch. 1931 (per Abd.4)). Now arch. or dial. in Eng.
