Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
TREESKA, n.
1. A fit of sulks or resentment, a cross-grained mood. Adj. treeskie, -y, sulky, ill-humoured, refractory. Also in ppl.forms in combs. ill-treeskiferd, -treested, bad-tempered, testy, perverse, contrary (Ork. 1929 Marw.).Ork. 1929 Marw.:
He's teen the treeska at me.Ork. 1951 R. Rendall Ork. Variants 57:
Treeskie Fin-folk gripp'd an oar An' weel-nigh couped the yole.
2. A truant (Ork. 1920 J. Firth MS.). Phr. to play treeska (Ork. 1973).
[Cf. Faer. treiski, contrariness, sulks. treiskur, perverse, Icel. treiskr, Norw. dial. treisk, Dan. †træsk, id.]
