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.
†YERLISH, adj. Also yirlich, -ish. s.Sc. variants of Erlish, unearthly, uncanny. See P.L.D. § 74.1.Slk. 1820 Hogg Tales (1866) 110:
Sche sett up sic ane yirlich skrighe.Rxb. 1824 Trans. Hawick Arch. Soc. (1922) 36:
With a yerlish shraik, with a squelch and a groan.
