Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1804-1864, 1932
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‡SCURRYVAIG, n., v. Also scurri-, skurry-, skurri-, skirri-; and altered form scuddie-(Rxb.); erron. -varg. [skʌrɪ′veg]
I. n. 1. A vagabond, an idle, loafing, unkempt or slatternly person, a lout, a scullion (Lth., Rxb. 1825 Jam.; ‡Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).Wgt. 1804 R. Couper Poetry II. 87:
Vile scurryvaig, why did ye steal The remnant o' my swine!Sc. 1819 J. Rennie St. Patrick III. xiii.:
Aye ye may hide the vile scurrivaig, an' hiddle an' smiddle the deeds o' darkness!Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xxxi.:
Thae brutal scurryvaigs that lick their wives.
2. A course of dissipation, a debauch, spree (wm.Sc. 1880 Jam.).
II. v. tr. or absol. To range or roam about aimlessly (over), to scour, to wander (Ayr. 1825 Jam.); to live in idleness and dissipation (Sc. 1880 Jam., skurryvarg (sic)). Now only arch.Edb. 1821 Scots Mag. (April) 351:
A' thae scurrivaging willfire gangrals.Sc. 1822 A. Sutherland Cospatrick II. vi.:
He shall skurrivaig the kintry wi' the warst o' us.Abd. 1932 R. L. Cassie Sc. Sangs 22:
Eh! fat's come owre wir braw young folk? They're seerly skirrivaigin.
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"Scurryvaig n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/scurryvaig>
