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.
Quotation dates: 1791-1869
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RUSKIE, adj., n.2 Also rusky.
I. adj. 1. Healthy, stout, vigorous.Lnk. 1825 Jam.:
He's a ruskie fallow. That's a ruskie fychel [foal].
2. Violent, intense, severe. Only recorded in quot. below and of somewhat doubtful authenticity.Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 172–3:
There's nae an ill aneath the meen, . . . Are ha'f sae rusky, Whan fock are outher late or sune Ramjee'd wi' Whisky . . . Fock wad hae a freer wame O bauts sae rusky.
II. n. “A strong person of rough manners” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 146).Bnff. 1869 W. Knight Auld Yule 118:
She was a dowie lass for mony a day — Nae kith to yon rough ruskies Meg an' Bell.
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"Ruskie adj., n.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 20 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/ruskie_adj_n2>
