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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

DREE, v.², n.² A curtailed form of Dreid, q.v.

1. v. To suspect; fear (Ags. 1949 (per Abd.²⁷)).Sc. 1874 W. Allan Hamespun Lilts 334:
I dree my Jamie's on the muir an' fechtin' wi' the snaw.Ags. 1932 J. M. Barrie Julie Logan 43:
“I hope I shall not fail them,” I said loftily. Nevertheless I dreed what was coming.Per. 1895 R. Ford Tayside Songs 29:
He's crabbit an' croose, but I'd redd him tak' tent, For in quarters he little may dree, There's a plot to get Mammon set up in his shoon.Kcb. 1826 J. Hannah Rhymes (1854) 36:
He sairly dreed some sad mishap.s.Sc. 1835–40 J. M. Wilson (ed.) Tales of the Borders (1857–59) XIV. 18:
Little did he dree what a dear parliament the ane that he then spoke o' was to be to him.

2. n. In derivs. dreefu', -some, adj., dreadful, fearsome.Clc. 1850 J. Crawford Doric Lays 9:
An' like the wull-cat's dreesome din, The lum gi'ed mony a yell.Lnk. 1880 P. M'Arthur Amusements 138:
In dreesome cleughs, hid from men's sight, Through a' the lang an' darksome night.Wgt. 1912 A.O.W.B. Fables frae French 60:
But three days aifter, blin' an' thochtless baith, Baukie ance mair gat into dreefu' scaith.