Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1773-1951
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DRIBBLE, v. and n. Sc. usages.
1. v.
(1) To tipple (Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems, Gl.; Ags.17 1940). Ppl.adj. and vbl.n. dribblin(g). Hence dribbler, a tippler.Edb. 1843 J. Ballantine Gaberlunzie's Wallet (1869) 224:
Ilk waly-draiglin', dribblin' wight, Wha sleeps a' day, and drinks a' nicht.Rnf. 1835 D. Webster Rhymes 139:
If ever on earth was a h — ll . . . . There's none who more feel it themsells, Than delirious dribblers in drink.Rnf. 1835 D. Webster Rhymes 139:
Tir'd wi' dribbling and drinking.
(2) To drizzle (Cai., Bnff., Abd., Ags., Fif. and Slk. correspondents 1940; Ayr. 1923 Wilson Dial. Burns 161; Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 185; Uls.2 1929). Ppl.adj. dribblin'. Also found in Eng. dial. Hence dribbly, drizzly.Sc. 1823 Scots Mag. (May) 573:
"You have bad weather for your harvest." "Ay, twa or three dribbly days."Dmf. 1823 J. Kennedy Poems 99:
Sair drookit wi' the dribblin' rain.
(3) fig.: to walk slowly and uncertainly.Sc. 1930 Scotsman (21 May) 16/1:
Thae feet, ne'er tired ahint plew tail, Frae brek o' morn till dyne, Noo stot whan dribblin' doon the gait, As if they wer' na mine.
(4) = Drib, v.1Abd. 1951 Buchan Observer (14 Aug.):
Her assistants had "dribbled" their cows to the very last drop from the udder.
2. n.
(1) A drop, a small quantity, esp. of liquor. In pl. = dregs. Dim. dribblick(ie), -ach (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 42, -ick(ie); Bnff.2, Abd.9 (-ach) 1940).Sc. 1824 Scott Redgauntlet xx.:
There is a wee dribble of brandy in the stoup.Bnff. 1853 Bnffsh. Jnl. (21 June):
Come, Norland muse, and with thee bring, Nae dribblach draps frae heather spring.Edb. 1773 R. Fergusson Poems (1925) 28:
Withouten fill O' dribbles frae the gude brown cow, Or Highland gill.Edb. 1844 J. Ballantine Miller xvi.:
I . . . took a wee drappie dribble, maybe whiles ower muckle.Ayr. 1822 Galt Provost xxii.:
[They] were waiting . . . for the dribbles of the bottles, and the leavings in the bowls.
Phr.: to tak' the dribble, to tipple (Sc. 1818 Sawers Dict. Sc. Lang.).
(2) A drizzle (Bnff.2, Abd.9, Fif.10 1940; Ayr. 1923 Wilson Dial. Burns 161). Also in Suf. dial.Hdg. 1892 J. Lumsden Sheep-Head 301:
Fogs, haurs, hazes, mists, sleets, dribbles, drizzles.Ayr. 1786 Burns To a Mouse vi.:
To thole the Winter's sleety dribble.
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"Dribble v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/dribble>
