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.
Quotation dates: 1823-1897
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‡DIFFEECULTY, DEFEECKWULTY, DIFFEEK(W)ALTY, Diffeequalty, Diffeeclety, n. Sc. forms of Eng. difficulty. Known to Sh.11, Ork.2 1949, Bnff.2, Abd. and Ags. correspondents, Fif.10, Slg.3, Arg.1 1940. [dɪ′fik(w)əlti]Sc. 1826 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 144:
I fin' maist diffeeculty in the foreshortnin and perspective.Sc. 1874 A. Hislop Sc. Anecdotes 189:
It is wi' the greatest defeeckwulty ane can ken a word they say.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xliv.:
There sudna be nae gryte diffeekalty aboot gettin' hoose-room for twa aul' fowk.Abd. 1897 G. Macdonald Salted with Fire xvii.:
Weel, that ouchtna to mak muckle o' a diffeeclety atween auld friens like oorsels.Ayr. 1823 Galt Entail III. ii.:
I can do no less than help you to him, which need be a matter of no diffeequalty.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 74–75:
He so fangled the laird's affairs, and drooned him in diffeekwalties and debts, that soon he had the impidence to offer him a sma' soom for the estate.
