Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
SKLEUSH, v., n., adv. Also sklus(s)h; skluish (Rxb.). [skl(j)uʃ; s.Sc. skløʃ]
I. v. 1. To dash down or fall with a soft thud (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 160; Mry. 1925).
2. To walk in an ungainly shuffling or leg-weary manner (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 160; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Cai., Bnff., Abd. 1970). Ppl.adj., vbl.n. skleushan, -in, shuffling, with reference to the action or its sound (Gregor), slatternly (Id.).Bnff. 1869 W. Knight Auld Yule 133:
'Neth simmer skies ye needna swarf, Nor hameless sklush thro' winter's snaw.Abd. 1924 Trans. Bch. Field Club XIII. 38:
A peer wife sklushin' alang the road wi' galashes.
II. n. 1. A soft dash or fall, the noise of such (Gregor).
2. A trailing shuffling heavy-footed gait (Gregor; Watson; Cai., Abd. 1970).
3. A mis-shapen badly worn shoe (Gregor).
4. An untidy slattern, gen. of a woman (Id.); a heavy awkward person (Watson).
III. adv. With a soft dash, forcibly; with a shuffling ungainly step (Gregor).
[An emphatic variant of Slush. See P.L.D. § 69. “Sklussh conveys the idea of sharper sound” (Gregor).]
