Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SLEETH, n. Also slieth. A slow lazy person, a sloven, sluggard (Abd. 1808 Jam.), also as a gen. term of reprobation, a worthless character. Hence sleeth-like, sluggardly. [sliθ]Abd. 1742 R. Forbes Journal 6:
To help the leethfu' leepit sleeth o' a coach-man to yoke his horse.Abd. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 19, 44:
Some sumph gets up, scull proud o' pence, An' slieth-like bids me couch. . . . Fu' mony a pridefu slieth ye stowe.Mry. 1805 J. Cock Simple Strains 130, 137:
Foul fa' that young and souple sleeth, That cudna had his feet, forseeth! . . . Thae sleeths, wha hoard up meal and grain.