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 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

DIRTEN, Dirtin, adj.

1. Filthy, soiled by excrement (Sc. 1808 Jam., dirtin; Abd.²⁷ 1950; Ags.², Ags.¹⁷ 1940). Cf. Dirten Allen. Hence †dirtenly, adv., foully.Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 249:
Money is welcome in a dirten Clout.Ib. 400:
I do full dirtenly, I wish they had the skitter that speers.

2. Used fig.: mean, contemptible; conceited (Abd.¹³ 1910), disdainful, “snooty.” In superl. = utmost (Bnff.², Abd.² 1940); cf. Dirt, adv., above.Cai.³ 1930:
She wis gey dirten 'e day an went past wi' her nose in 'e air.Abd. c.1750 R. Forbes Ulysses' Answer in Sc. Poems (1785) 34:
A dirten dirdum ye brag o' Done on the Trojan shore.Abd.¹⁵ 1915:
Dae his dirtnist, he cudna meeve that muckle steen.Abd.²⁷ 1948:
A' the thank I got was a dirten answer.

3. Comb.: dirtin'-gab, a foul-mouthed person.Bwk. 1856 G. Henderson Pop. Rhymes 98:
Oily-tongued dirtin'-gab, ay fu' o' clashes.