Dictionaries of the Scots Language
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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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PARTICULAR, adj., adv., n. Also particwilar (Sh. 1898 J. Burgess Tang iv.); particler (Abd. 1941 Bon-Accord (27 Nov.) 6), partec(k)lar (Sc. 1826 Noctes Amb. (1863) I. 131; wm.Sc. 1835 Laird of Logan 277), parteeclar (Lth. 1925 C. P. Slater Marget Pow 1), parteeklar, -er (Kcb. 1909 Crockett Rose of Wilderness xxii.), perticular, petikler (Ags. 1822 A. Balfour Farmers'Three Daughters 121); particeelar(ly) (Dmf. 1908 J. L. Waugh R. Doo 29) and shortened form partic. Sc. forms and usages, mainly later survivals of uses which became obs. in 18th c. Eng.

I. adj. 1. Remarkable, worthy of note. unusual; odd, strange, peculiar (Ork., Ags. 1965); specially good or enjoyable, of an entertainment, food, etc. (Sh. 1965).Also absol.Sc. 1712 J. Arbuthnot John Bull III. iii.:
Peg was whimsical, and loved any Thing that was particular . . . Jack was her man; for he neither thought, spoke, dres'ed, nor acted like other Mortals.Sc. 1791 Boswell Johnson (1934) I. 108:
Johnson's mode of penmanship, which at all times was very particular.Sc. 1835 H. Miller Scenes (1857) 391:
Whether a rich man or a poor one, no one could look at him and doubt of his being a particular man.Sh. 1965:
Dis fish is parteeklar, very tasty. Dat's parteeklar, of a good story or a desirable event. Parteeklar wadder, fine weather.wm.Sc. 1986 Robert McLellan in Joy Hendry Chapman 43-4 24:
Nane in parteecular. Juist dizzens.

2. Private, confidential (I. and n.Sc., Lth. 1965). Obs. in Eng.Sc. 1884 A. S. Swan Carlowrie x.:
I'm gaun on a parteekler errand to Lintlaw.Fif. 1894 D. S. Meldrum Margrédel xiii.:
"It[a letter]'s michty partic' and's to be gien to Miss Margredel personally." . . . "I'll ask Miss Jean to speak to you." . . . "Ye needna fash. It's michty partic' private business."

3. Of persons: showing special kindness or attention to another, affable, markedly friendly, ingratiating, familiar in manner. Obs. in Eng.Sc. 1771 Smollett Humphrey Clinker Melford to Willis (31 May):
He was a little particular; but perhaps I mistake his complaisance.Ayr. 1826 Galt Last of Lairds xix.:
It was said you were particular to auld Captain Hawser o' the press-gang.

II. adv. Particularly, markedly, to an unusual degree, especially. Gen.Sc. Also in colloq. or dial. Eng.Ags. 1889 Barrie W. in Thrums xiv.:
I wouldna say 'at it was partikler grand, but there was a great mask o' things in't.s.Sc. 1897 J. C. Snaith Fierceheart xii.:
It's nashgab on the pairt o' him, ye ken, tae say he was "perticular fou'."

III. n. In phr. to be pit(ten) tae one's particulars, to be at one's wit's end, "hard put to it", at the end of one's resources, forced to use every ounce of one's energy or ingenuity.Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains & Hilly 143:
Nae winner tho' the gweedwife wis fyles pitten tull 'er partic'lers to ken fat to gie them.