Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†FRAGALENT, adj. Also fragrant.
1. Advantageous, profitable (Ayr. 1825 Jam.); thriving, flourishing.Bnff.2 1930:
“Your ley crap's yalla an stucken like.” “Ay, it's nae very fragrant.”
2. “Undermining” (Rnf. 1825 Jam.).
[The forms and deriv. of the word are obscure. Phs. orig. a corrupt form of flagrant, with extended meanings.]