Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1788-1923
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DROCHLE, n., v. Also droichle, droghle. [′droxəl, drɔxl Sc., but Cai. ′drɔiçəl]
1. n.
(1) A short dumpy person, a puny insignificant person (Cai.7 1940; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 42; Bnff.2 1940; Abd.15, Ags., Fif. 1950; Ags. 1910 Mrs J. B. Smith W.-L.; Bnff., Ags., Fif. 2000s). Also used attrib. Dim. drochly (Mry.1 1925).Bnff.6 c.1915:
Mary hisna growen oot o' the bit the last twa 'ear. She'll aye be a wee drochle o' a craiter.Fif. 1873 J. W. Wood Ceres Races 93:
Yet you! ye German-siller shrew, Would say I filled your drochle fou, A Chield, was aye a ne'er-dae-weel.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., obsol.:
A wee drochle o' a craitur.Slk. 1832 Hogg Queer Book 212:
Up there starts a droichle man.
(2) “A fat dumpy animal small of its kind” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 42; Bnff.2, Abd.2, Abd.9 1940); the smallest of a litter (Fif.10 1940).
(3) “The act of walking with slow, short step” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 223).
2. v. To walk slowly and feebly with short steps (Ib.; Bnff.2, Abd.9 1940); to dawdle.Abd. 1900 E.D.D.:
What are ye drochlin there for?
Ppl.adj. drochlin, droghling, (1) puny, dwarfish (Bnff.2, Abd.9 1940); “including the ideas of feebleness and staggering” (Jam.2); (2) lazy, indolent (Bnff.2, Abd.9 1940; Cld. 1825 Jam.2).(1) Sc. 1814 Scott Waverley (1817) xlii.:
That droghling coghling baillie body they ca' Macwhupple.Abd. 1788 J. Skinner Christmass Bawing xiv. in Caled. Mag. 501:
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.(2) Abd. 1900 E.D.D.:
That lassie's a drochlin crater.
