Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
ILSKET, adj. Also elsket, elskoit.
1. Malicious, ill-humoured, rude, irritable (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), ilsket, elsket, Sh. 1958).Sh. 1897 Shetland News (15 May):
Nae lass could staand his ilsket fun.Sh. 1898 Ib. (2 July):
A lock o' da young baess comin' doon . . . bultin' an' gyoil-brölin, i' ane o' dat elskoit fits 'at dey tak' sometimes.
2. “Feigning gaiety, hiding bad humour or discontent” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).
[Ppl.adj. from Norw. ilske, anger, O.N. ilska, wickedness, cruelty.]
