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: 1794-1814, 1899
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GREASY, adj. Also greezy (Edb. 1884 R. F. Hardy J. Halliday xii.). Sc. usages. [′gri:zi (gri:z is the reg.Sc. pronunciation of Eng. grease)]
1. Of the sky: misty, hazy, portending rain (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.). Also in Eng. dial.Sh. 1899 Shetland News (2 Sept.):
"What's he [the weather] ta be da morn?" "Rain, I fear. Da sooth is very greasy laek."
2. In combs.: †(1) greasy clods, see quot. and cf. creeshy clod, id., s. v. Creeshie, adj.; †(2) greasy peat, peat of a resinous nature. Cf. (1); †(3) greasy webbs, woollen fabrics still containing the natural grease.(1) Bnff. 1795 Stat. Acc.1 III. 53:
There is a white peat (under the name of greasy clods) which may be called a bitumen, and some years ago was universally used for giving light to spinners in winter; and is still used by the poorest people for that purpose.(2) Knr. 1814 P. Graham Agric. Knr. 19:
Then succeeds what is called the greasy peat, from its oily and inflammable nature. This stratum is of no great thickness.(3) e.Lth. 1794 G. Buchan-Hepburn Agric. e.Lth. 29:
The coarest species of woollen cloth, or what we call greasy webbs; that is, webs which they sold just as they came from the loom, to the fullers.
