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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

†FILSH, adj. Also filch, filsch. Weak from illness, hunger or exhaustion; faint (Lth. 1808 Jam., filsch; Lnk.10 1927).Lnl. 1834 J. Watt in Poets Lnl. (ed. Bisset 1896) 76:
Joints grow sae filch, slim, powerless a', They winna play their part ava.Ayr. 1840 Anon. in Carrick Anthol. (ed. Finlayson 1925) 225:
Corn to mill, while markets swither; Horses filsh in plough or brake.

[Of uncertain origin. ? Phs. a reduced form of Fail, adj. + -ish.]

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