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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HASHIE, adj. Also hashy.

1. Of persons: slap-dash, careless or slovenly in dress, work or habits (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Cai. 1902 E.D.D.; Sh., em.Sc.(a), m.Lth., s.Sc. 1956). Edb. c.1870 Mod. Sc. Poets (Edwards) VI. 211:
He is nae fashious wean, nor fu' o' sulks an thraws, Nor hashie like the swine, or noisy like the craws.Lnk. 1880 G. Short in Clydesdale Readings 110:
They never get abune a meeserably hashy, nondescrip', guddlin' sort o' existence.Edb. 1884 R. F. Hardy Jock Halliday i.:
A broad comely-faced woman, but exceedingly “hashy” in her appearance and dress.m.Sc. 1917 O. Douglas The Setons i.:
I could not trust Annie in here, poor girl! She had such hashy ways.Fif. 1953:
A hashie mason would give 3 or 4 bats to the inch, whereas a good workman would give 7 or 8, resulting in a much smoother finish.Comb. hashy quarter, see quot.Edb. 1859 F. W. Bedford Heriot's Hosp. 343:
Hashy-quarter, the three months before June Day. During this period the boys might go to the town in a slovenly or hashy state, without shaming the callants.

Hence (1) hashiness, slovenliness; (2) Adv. hashly (< hashily). (1)Fif. 1899 Proc. Philosoph. Soc. Gsw. xxx. 55:
The elder sister, fikey and perjink, was severe on a younger brother's hashiness.(2)Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 57:
With Brose and Bannocks poorly fed, In Hoden Gray right hashly cled.

2. Of an employer: given to urging on his staff, slave-driving (Cai., Kcb. 1956).

3. Of weather: wet or windy or both, stormy, with wind or rain (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Fif., m.Lth., Kcb. 1956). Cf. Hash, n. 6.Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 238:
Ae gay hashy day, I think about the tail o' the tawtie-lifting.Lth., Bwk. 1825 Jam.:
A hashy day, one in which there are frequent showers, so as to render walking unpleasant, from the dirtiness of the streets or roads.Bnff. 1923 Banffshire Jnl. (19 June) 8:
The old salt said, “Hit, it's a bonnie nicht; j'ist a fine hashy nicht.”

4. Of work: heavy, strenuous, fatiguing (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; m.Lth. 1956).