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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

GLUNSH, GLUNCH, v.¹, n.¹ Also glunsch, †gluntch, ¶glaunch (Slg. 1885 A. Murray Poems 7), glanch (Kcd. 1932 L. G. Gibbon Sunset Song 179). Also in Nhb. & Cum. dial. [glʌnʃ]

I. v. 1. To look sour or sullen (Fif. 1825 Jam.); to grumble, snap (at); to frown, scowl, knit (the brows) (Sh.¹⁰ rare, Cai., Per., Bwk., Dmf., Kcb. 1954), “to hang the lower lip and appear about to cry” (Kcb.⁴ 1900). Freq. conjoined with gloom or similar verbs.Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 214:
But when ane's of his Merit conscious, He's in the wrang, when prais'd, that glunshes.Ayr. 1786 Burns Earnest Cry & Prayer v.:
Does ony great man glunch an' gloom? Speak out an' never fash your thumb.Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 55:
But may some foul fiend ding them o'er, Whaever gars thee glunch or glow'r.Gsw. 1877 A. G. Murdoch Laird's Lykewake 79:
Sma' heed I gi'e to ither folks, e'en let them glunch or gloom.m.Sc. 1917 J. Buchan Poems 30:
I got gloomin' and glunchin' and paiks, And nae bite frae the press or the pan.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 17:
An there the perr [of hills] stand, . . . leike as they war glunshin an shuirrin doon at aabodie that wad middle thum.Sc. 1931 I. Burnett The Ravens 245:
“You're aye glooming and glunsching,” said the boy impatiently.Kcd. 1933 “L. G. Gibbon” Cloud Howe ii. 105:
Bruce glunched up, dour, Be quiet, you old fool.

Hence glunchingly, adv., surlily.Lnk. 1916 G. Muir Cld. Minstrelsy 3:
But glunchingly they on their neighbours gloom; They canna join the social cheerfu' mirth.

2. Of a dog: to snarl (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).Dmb. 1923 K. R. Archer Jock Tamson's Bairns 48:
Awa' an' dinna bother folk, An' dinna staun' there glunchin'.

II. n. 1. A sour look (Ayr.⁴ 1928; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein), a frown; a sullen fit (Rxb. 1825 Jam., 1923 Watson W.-B.; Sh.¹⁰ rare, wm.Sc.¹ 1954); “a surly answer” (Watson; Slk. 1916 T.S.D.C. II.; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein). Also fig.Ayr. 1786 Burns Scotch Drink xvii.:
Wha twists his gruntle wi' a glunch O' sour disdain.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 91:
A gloomie gluntch shot he.Lth. 1885 “J. Strathesk” Blinkbonny 36:
An' how we fear'd at writin' hour His glunches an' his glooms.Edb. 1917 T. W. Paterson Wyse-Sayin's xxxi. 25:
She's weel set-up, sonsie, an' shair o' hersel, An' lauchs at the glunch o' the time comin on.

2. “A snap . . ., as by a dog” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., obsol.).

‡III. adj. Sulky, sour, bad-tempered (Lth., s.Sc. 1825 Jam.; Abd. 1916 per Mry.²). Also glunchy, glunshy, id. (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Dmf. 1954).Sc. 1816 Scott Antiquary ix.:
But what's the use o' looking sae glum and glunch about a pickle banes?Sc. 1818 Scott Letters (Cent. ed.) V. 100:
Old Erick, who by dint of looking glum and glunch and speaking little may perchance be imposing.Sc. 1847 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes 225:
To tell the even-down truth, the lady could not spin a bit. This made her husband glunchy with her.Gsw. 1985 Anna Blair Tea at Miss Cranston's 88:
You'd think to hear some folk now that in the old days it was "No, no, no!' that you didnae do this and you didnae do that on the Sabbath ... that you just went about all douce and glunchy.