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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

‡DROICH, Droch, n. A dwarf, a person of stunted growth (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; Cai.⁹ 1939; Bnff.⁶ c.1920; Bch. 1933 (per Bnff.¹²), Per.⁴ 1950; Fif., Lth. 1926 Wilson (droch), Lth., Cld. 1808 Jam.); the smallest pig in a litter (Per.⁴ 1950). Also dreich, dreegh, driech (Per. 1909 Scotsman (10 May), driech; Borders, Rxb. 1825 Jam.²; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., obs.); droichling. [drɔɪç Sc., but ne.Sc., Fif., Lth., Cld. drɔx]Sc. 1802–3 Scott Minstrelsy III. 359:
“Vile droich”, he said, “art nocht afraid Thy mortal life to tyne?Sc. 1818 S. E. Ferrier Marriage II. xiv.:
“The Englishwomen are all poor droichs,” said Nicky.Sc.(E) 1927 L. Spence Weirds & Vanities 2:
The Girnigoe glaikit The Droich in his braws.Abd. 1990 Stanley Robertson Fish-Hooses (1992) 150:
Ina couldnae tak a midget hitting her any langer, she punched her full force and she ran awa hame tae tell her faither - who had tae eventually gang tae the school and fecht with the headmaster ower the bairn getting sae bad-used by this droichling.Bch. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 13:
To list the soun' throw birk-trees hummin Ran ilka droch.Ags. 1988 Raymond Vettese The Richt Noise 20:
land whaur gien choice the people turnt aboot,
wrung oot o spreit like onie saft cloot,
land o ice whaur wi sair hauch
the auld dee cauld, land o the drukken droch. Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 253:
The hindmost Laird of Ardeer was certainly a vera wee droich o' a creatur himsel'.Slk. 1829 Hogg Shepherd's Cal. I. x.:
It gars a' the hairs stand on my head when I think it may hae been our Leddy, and the droich of a creature murdering her.

Hence 1. droichan, drochen, n., a dwarfish man (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 186, drochen), “any small living animal; sometimes used as a term of reproach” (Inv. 1900 E.D.D.; 1948 (per Abd.²⁷)); 2. droichy, adj., dwarfish (Cai. 1900 E.D.D.).2. Sc. 1693? R. Calder Sc. Presb. Eloquence (1718) 97:
Zacchus [sic], a Man of a low Stature, that is, a little droichy body.