Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CAMLACHIE, prop.n. The name of a district in Glasgow, used fig. as an epithet = maladroit, clumsy, and in phr. to gie a person or thing camlachie,—the camlachie burl, to give short shrift to, deal with in a summary manner, get rid of unceremoniously (Per. 1950). See Birl, n.2Per. 1975 , obsol.:
A richt camlachie way o daein.
[The expression seems peculiar to the Comrie area and its history is not traced.]
