Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1827
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GOLAICH, n. Also -laigh. Dims. go-laichie, -laighie, galaichie. A breed of short-legged hen (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; Per. 1861 F. Blair Hen-wife 129, Per. 1954); often used attrib. with hen. Also applied to a woman of low build with short legs (Abd. 1900 E.D.D.; Bnff.7 1927) or to “anyone who moves around in an aimless, creeping, indecisive manner” (Per.4 1950). Cf. Dumpy, n. (2), id. [go′le:ç] Slg. 1827 Falkirk Monthly Mag. 97:
The bits o' galaichies maun geck as she gaes by.
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"Golaich n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 20 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/golaich>
