Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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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.
Quotation dates: 1802-1929, 1998
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GREESHOCH, n. Also gries(c)h-, greish-, greash-, gru(i)sh-, grees-, gries-, greas-, with variant terminations -ach, -ock, -(a)ugh, -o(u)gh, -ig(h), -agh, -ick, -ack, -a(w); †gra(i)shie (Fif. c.1789 Scotsman (9 Jan. 1912)). Also dim. forms greeshuckle (Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 250), grieshuckle (Sc.(E) 1926 H. M'Diarmid Drunk Man 44). [′griʃəx, -ək]
1. A glowing fire of red-hot embers without flame; the embers themselves, esp. those of a peat fire (Ayr. 1811 W. Aiton Agric. Ayr. 692, greeshough; Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 241; Dmf. 1825 Jam., gruishack; Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl., greeshaw, gru-; ne.Sc., Per., Fif., Arg., Ayr., Gall., Uls. 1955).Sc. 1802 Scott Minstrelsy I. 83:
Gang a' to your beds, Sirs, and dinna put out the wee "grieshoch".Sc. 1820 Blackwood's Mag. (Nov.) 203:
Jeanie . . . in the caul yerd, an' me sitting by a bien pantry, and a warm Greishoch.Fif. 1838 A. Bethune Sc. Peasantry 120:
I'll torment ye as lang as ye live, and gie ye to the devil for a greeshoch when ye dee.Dmf. 1870 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes 86:
So she rase and bakit a bannock, and set it afore the greeshoch to harden.Arg. 1882 Arg. Herald (3 June):
Come awa ben, woman, an tak a bit scowther o' the grieshach.Kcb. 1901 Crockett Cinderella ix.:
The clear fire, a fire gentle, mild, and insinuating, no roisterous flame, but a "griesoch" rather, mellow and mellowing all about it.Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains and Hilly 145:
Aw wis sittin' ma leen at the greeshach o' fire 'at the wife left fin she gid awa' tull 'er bed.Arg. 1998 Angus Martin The Song of the Quern 51:
He's streetched afore a greeshach
wi the pipe sleck in his mooth,
doverin in contentment
as the gale draws tae the sooth,
2. A tradesman's term for a brazier (Arg.1 1929, greesach).
¶3. Fig. A fervent enthusiasm, ardent affection.Ayr. 1821 Scots Mag. (April) 351:
The swaping o' the court, an' the peetiefu' gait whilk the fowk spak thereawa, soon gart our knabrie tyne a' that auncient greeshoch whilk they had for their forebears.
