Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
PLISH-PLASH, adv., v., n. Also pleesh-plash (Gregor), and variant plitch-patch.
I. adv. With a splashing noise, splosh! (Bnf. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 129; Sh., ne.Sc., Ags. 1966).ne.Sc. 1884 D. Grant Lays 5:
Plish-plash the water skelpit in Across the dirty fleer.
II. v. Of a liquid: to splash, dash, cascade (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 129).Peb. 1805 J. Nicol Poems I. 144:
How tup-horn spoons, wi' muckle mou Plish-plashed; nae chiel was hoolie.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 38:
The ragin' lowes gae up its sides, Garrin' plish-plash the internal tides.
III. n. “The act of dabbling in a liquid or semi-liquid substance” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 129), a splashing noise or motion, a splash. Phr. to play plish-plash, to splash, make a splashing sound (Sc. 1808 Jam.).s.Sc. 1824 J. Telfer Border Ballads 48:
An eiry nicher she heard i' the lynne, And a plitch-patch in the streime.
