Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
FORRITSOME, adj. Also forit-, forret-, furrit-.
1. Forward in manner or disposition, pert, bold, rather impudent (m.Lth., Peb., Hdg., Ayr., Kcb., Dmf., s.Sc. 1953); often of a girl “who does not wait on the formality of courtship but advances half-way” (Rxb. 1825 Jam.; Kcb.10 1943).Ayr. 1826 Galt Lairds xxxviii.:
Naebody that kent it wad hae been sae forritsome and impudent.Abd. 1868 W. Shelley Wayside Flowers 125:
Gin ye light amang lasses a' smirkin' wi' smiles, Wha try to entice ye wi' forritsome wiles.Rxb. 1875 N. Elliott Nellie Macpherson 129:
It disna look weel in a young lassie tae be ower forritsome an' venturesome.Kcb. 1895 Crockett Moss-Hags xxxvi.:
She was not uncomely, though, like all these shore lassies, a little forritsome.Lnk. 1910 C. Fraser Glengonnar 94:
Tell them ye want to marry them, and they're forritsome eneuch to tak' ye at your word.m.Sc. 1920 “O. Douglas” Penny Plain xx.:
Would it be pushing and furritsome . . . if I tried to help ministers?Sc. 1952 Scots Mag. (March) 458:
“In fact,” said he, “we've a wey o' dealin' Wi' forritsome callants that come here stealin'.”
2. Eager to get on, ambitious, pushing, “not necessarily in a bad sense” (Ayr.2 1921).Kcb. 1894 Crockett Raiders xxii.:
I'm not a bright man nor a forritsome man, but I'm not exactly a fool.
