Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1768-1939
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SCASH, v., adj., adv., n. Also scush. Derivs. scashie, skashie; in senses 2. and 3. scashle, -il, skashle, -il, scushel; scachil.
I. v. ‡1. To quarrel, squabble, have a heated argument or disagreement (Abd. 1969).Abd. 1801 W. Beattie Parings (1813) 19:
But fan anes folk begin to scash, I'm fear'd for harm.Abd. 1898 Weekly Free Press (15 Sept.):
Aboot the pay we needna scashie.
2. To twist, turn to one side, esp. in regard to one's feet or gait, to walk in a shuffling awkward manner with the toes turned outwards, either from deformity or affectation (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 148, scash, scashle; ne.Sc. 1969). Vbl.n. scashilin, shuffling (Ib.), scashilt, of the feet: turned outwards in walking, splay.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 148:
The bairn's feet are beginnin' t' scash. . . . The mannie geed scashlin' up the lane.Ags. 1897 Arbroath Guide (17 July) 3:
There was a scachilin' o' feet on the pavement.Bnff.6 1939:
That horse's forefeet are awfa scashilt.
3. To be slovenly in dress, wear one's clothes in a careless manner (n.Sc. 1825 Jam., scashle; Rnf. c.1850 Crawfurd MSS. (N.L.S.) S. 21; Bnff. 1882 Jam., scash).
4. To beat, batter, crush, press roughly or carelessly (Cld. 1882 Jam.).
II. adj. Twisted, turned to one side, esp. of the feet. Combs. scash-fittit, splay-footed (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 148; Abd., Kcd. 1969), scash-mouth'd, moo'd, -moot, having the mouth or lips twisted sideways (Ib.).Bnff. 1882 Jam.:
A scash fit, a foot with the toes turned outwards.Ayr. 1927 J. Carruthers A Man Beset i. ii.:
The scash-moo'd Mr Patterson.
III. adv. In a twisted manner, awry, with a waddling, shuffling gait (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 148, scash(le)).
IV. n. 1. A quarrel, dispute, brawl.Abd. p.1768 A. Ross Works (S.T.S.) 197:
Since Mrs. Henny's scash wi the young Laird.Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 23:
Thae country scashles did but little guid.Abd. 1903 W. Watson Auld Lang Syne 78:
Hilly an' him hed bits o' skashels fyles.Abd. 1916 G. Abel Wylins 102:
My man an' me had hard wirds An' . . . the scashle cam' to dirds.
2. A twist, turning to one side, wrench, a distorted posture, esp. of the feet; a waddling shuffling gait, a scuffling with the feet, of both the action and the sound (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 148, scash(le)).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 148:
He ga's fit a scash, an' caed himsel' oot o' the queet.
†3. An untidy or slovenly piece of dress; an untidy person, a sloven (Cai. 1934).Ags. 1895 Arbroath Guide (27 April) 3:
I'm affronted to be seen thiroot wi' that auld scashel o' a thing on my heid.Ags. 1903 Arbroath Guide (24 Jan.) 3:
That auld scush o' a lum hat.
