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 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SCAULD, v., n. Also scald, scal(l), scaul, scawl, skaal, skaul and anglicised form scowld (Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 43; Sh. 1918 T. Manson Peat Comm. 85). Sc. forms and usages of Eng. scold. [m.Sc. skǫl(d); ne.Sc. skɑ:l; I.Sc., Cai. skʌuld]

I. v. As in Eng. Gen.Sc. Vbl.n., ppl.adj. scaul(d)in(g). Deriv. scalderation, a row, shindy. Comb. scaulin pyock, a loose fold of skin under the jaws of a fat person, a double chin (Abd.³⁰ 1954; Bnff. 1969), a sulky face. See Pock.Sc. 1725 Ramsay T.-T. Misc. (1876) I. 192:
For I maun hae a wife that will rise in the morning, Crudle a' the milk, and keep the house a-scaulding.Rnf. 1792 A. Wilson Poems II. (1876) 9:
Swear by every thing that's gude, Ne'er again your spouse to scal' him.Sc. 1813 The Scotchman 97:
I gat a bardie an scawlin letter.Sc. 1816 Scott Antiquary xxvi.:
The wife, she maun get the scull on her back, and awa' wi' the fish . . . and scauld and ban wi' ilka wife.Gall. c.1870 Bards (Harper 1889) 226:
Noo, let me by, or I'll be late, An' maybe get a scalin'.Bwk. 1876 W. Brockie Confessional 184:
She'll threep, an' she'll skaul, till she's black i' the face.Sh. 1918 T. Manson Peat Comm. 77:
What a scalderation shu'll mak o it, bangin an thumpin, rippin doon an rippin up ower da keys laek a nor-east gale.Abd.¹ 1929:
The leddy lat doon a gey scaulin pyock at the bairns stealin' her berries.Abd. 1961 People's Jnl. (24 June) 11:
Mony a gweed skaalin' he got for doiterin' on the road.

II. n. 1. As in Eng., a scold, scolding woman, termagant (Sc. 1825 Jam.). Gen.Sc., obsol.Sc. 1718 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 79:
He shook her, and sware muckle Dool Ye's thole for this, ye Scaul.Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 87:
Job himsell cou'd scarcely thole the scauld.Per. 1816 J. Duff Poems 80:
An idle taupy, an' a scauld beside.Gsw. 1838 A. Rodger Poems 303:
O sic a scauld is Betty! Xantippe's sel', wi' snash sae snell.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 45:
Why do ye alloo' sic a fearfu' scald to live i' the parish without punishment.Abd. 1909 J. Tennant Jeannie Jaffray i.:
Gratefu' for Eppie's usual warm welcome . . . for, tho' a scaul, I cudna want her.

2. Scolding, railing, abuse; the act of scolding (Sc. 1825 Jam.). Gen.Sc.Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 138:
Marion, for a bastard son, The waefu' scald o' our Mess John to bide.Ayr. 1786 Burns Address to the Deil xviii.:
An' lows'd his ill-tongu'd, wicked scawl.Rxb. 1815 J. Ruickbie Poems 65:
Makes us the butt of a' his scawl.Dmf. 1831 R. Shennan Tales 65:
Whiles they got a skelp or scauld.