Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

DISTRESS, n.

1 Illness (Ags.² 1940; Fif.¹⁶ 1948). Ags.¹⁷ 1940:
Is there muckle distress i' the toun?Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.:
Since I had that distress in my head.

2 Sc. usage: bad, stormy weather (Sh. 1975). Obs. in Eng. in 18th c. Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 54:
Man, Olie, da burn is fairly swalled dis moarnin efter da nicht o' distress.