Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
FRUSH, adj. Also †frusch, †fruish, frosh, and deriv. frushie (Rxb. 1942 Zai). [frʌʃ]
1. Of wood, vegetable fibre, cloth, etc.: brittle, apt to snap or disintegrate, having lost its tensile strength; decayed, unsound, rotten (Sc. 1787 J. Elphinston Propriety II. 190; Mry. 1813 W. Leslie Agric. Mry. 455, fruish; Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 214; Sc. 1886 J. Barrowman Mining Terms 30; Rxb. 1942 Zai; Ork., Cai., Per., Fif., Peb., wm.Sc., Kcb., Dmf. 1953; Ork., Ayr. 2000s); of flax: “when the ‘shoughs' separate easily from the fibre” (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.). Hence frushness, brittleness (Sc. 1825 Jam.).Sc. 1802 Scott Letters (Cent. ed.) XII. 228:
I have never formally pleaded guilty to the misinterpretation of the word frush. It is certainly brittle.Ayr. 1821 Galt Ann. Parish xxvii.:
I told them of the sarking of the roof, which was as frush as a puddock stool; insomuch, that in every blast, some of the pins lost their grip, and the slates came hurling off.Ayr. 1823 Galt Entail viii.:
Supposing, noo, that they were baith dead and gone, which, when we think o' the frush green kail-custock-like nature of bairns, is no an impossibility in the hands of their Maker.Sc. 1828 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) II. 165:
Its big branches a' tattery . . . and its wee anes a' frush as saugh-wands.wm.Sc. 1854 Laird of Logan 68:
Banes in frosty weather are said to be frush and easily snapped.Slg. 1862 D. Taylor Poems 38:
They're frush as ony rotten bed Or puddock's stool.Cld. 1866 G. Mills Beggar's Benison I. 29:
My frush habiliments . . . saved me.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 19:
The bruizzin, frizzlin heat turns frush things tewd an rizzert.Ork. 1930 Orcadian (13 Feb.):
In a wet harvest sheaves so secured in good time kept the “gear” in good fettle, fresh and strong in the straw, not frush or brittle.
2. Of soil: crumbly, friable, loose (Rxb. 1825 Jam., 1923 Watson W.-B.; Ork., Abd., Lnk., Dmf. 1953; Ayr., Dmf. 2000s; of pastry, oatcakes, etc.: crisp, short, mealy, crumbly (Ork., Ayr., Kcb., Dmf. 1953).Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. Gl.:
Frush. Brittle, like Bread baken with Butter.Gall. 1877 “Saxon” Gall. Gossip 201:
Baking soda . . . was grand to put into bread to make it frush.Lnk. 1910 C. Fraser Glengonnar 27:
Big farrels and wee farrels, thick anes wi' dreepin' in them to mak' them frush and easy to chow.Dmf. 1912 J. & R. Hyslop Langholm 642:
Great “frush” potatoes, with plenty of butter and milk!
Hence frushie, id.: †(1) as a n., a kind of tart with short pastry (Sc. 1893 Farmer and Henley III. 79); †(2) in comb. frushie-baa, the puff-ball fungus (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.). Cf. Fiesti-baa.Rnf. 1855 MS. Letter (per wm.Sc.1):
[We] have had several bakings . . . shortbread, tarts and frushies.Sc. 1908 J. Kirkland Mod. Baker III. 355:
Frushie or Open Tart.
†3. Fig.: tender, easily hurt or destroyed, frail, fragile.Edb. 1822 R. Wilson Poems 90:
That married joys are very frush Can't be denied.Ayr. 1823 Galt Entail xlv.:
Bell Fatherlans is o' oure frush a heart to thole wi' the dinging and fyke o' our house.Sc. 1913 H. P. Cameron Imit. Christ i. ii. 6:
We're a' unfeiroch, bot ye sud haud nane frusher nor yersel.
†4. Frank, bold, forward, rash; “hasty in temper” (Sc. 1818 Sawers). Also adv.Abd. after 1768 A. Ross Works (S.T.S.) 187:
Sae frush, sae frank, that she coud scarce gainsay, An' fouk were speaking o' her wedding day.Abd. 1779 J. Skinner Amusements (1809) 101:
Be wha ye will, ye're unco frush At praising what's nae worth a rush.Bch. 1810 W. Edwards Poems 37:
But frush wi' binsome, bleezin' zeal, They think themsels sae right.Sc. 1836 Tait's Edinburgh Magazine (Jun) III. 390a:
Though of a frush temper, he had a modicum of honesty about him. Abd.6 c.1916:
He began ower frush tae the .job.
