Scots Word of the Week
Each week we feature a different Scots word from the pages of DSL. These are illustrated by renowned Scottish artist Bob Dewar.
12/07/25 – Diddle
To sing in a rather low-pitched key without words, generally as an accompaniment to dancing.
To sing in a rather low-pitched key without words, generally as an accompaniment to dancing.
05/07/25 – Pirlie
Anything very small; the little finger.
Anything very small; the little finger.
28/06/25 – Collops
Thickish slices of meat; slices of meat minced before cooking.
Thickish slices of meat; slices of meat minced before cooking.
21/06/25 – Morningside
The supposedly affected speech of (some of) the inhabitants of Morningside, Edinburgh.
The supposedly affected speech of (some of) the inhabitants of Morningside, Edinburgh.
14/06/25 – Gauger
An official employed to collect excise duties and enforce excise laws.
An official employed to collect excise duties and enforce excise laws.
07/06/25 – Nicky tams
A pair of straps or strings tied below the knee to keep trouser bottoms clear of dirt.
A pair of straps or strings tied below the knee to keep trouser bottoms clear of dirt.
31/05/25 – Bothy ballad
A traditional farmworkers’ song.
A traditional farmworkers’ song.
24/05/25 – Skooshy cream
Whipped cream from an aerosol can.
Whipped cream from an aerosol can.
17/05/25 – Diluting juice
Fruit-flavoured squash.
Fruit-flavoured squash.
10/05/25 – Jeely
Jam or whole fruit preserve; a gelatinous substance or jelly.
Jam or whole fruit preserve; a gelatinous substance or jelly.
03/05/25 – Swats
Newly-brewed weak beer; a fermented mixture of molasses, water, and yeast.
Newly-brewed weak beer; a fermented mixture of molasses, water, and yeast.
26/04/25 – Wheech
To move quickly; to remove (something) with a speedy, snatching movement.
To move quickly; to remove (something) with a speedy, snatching movement.
19/04/25 – Back green
A back garden, especially of a tenement or council house.
A back garden, especially of a tenement or council house.
12/04/25 – Gowpin
To throb with pain, to ache violently.
To throb with pain, to ache violently.
05/04/25 – Bell the Cat
A nickname given to Archibald Douglas, fifth Earl of Angus, for his bravery.
A nickname given to Archibald Douglas, fifth Earl of Angus, for his bravery.
29/03/25 – Gushet house
A house on a corner that forms an angle between two roads.
A house on a corner that forms an angle between two roads.
22/03/25 – Gundy
A kind of flavoured toffee.
A kind of flavoured toffee.
15/03/25 – Hottle
A hotel.
A hotel.
08/03/25 – Glasgow magistrate
A salt herring.
A salt herring.
01/03/25 – Clachan
A hamlet or village, generally containing a church.
A hamlet or village, generally containing a church.
22/02/25 – Eat up…
To help yourself liberally.
To help yourself liberally.
15/02/25 – Trow
A mischievous sprite or fairy, a supernatural being.
A mischievous sprite or fairy, a supernatural being.
08/02/25 – Sitooterie
An outside seating area.
An outside seating area.
01/02/25 – Snod
Of people or things: neat, tidy, in good order.
Of people or things: neat, tidy, in good order.
25/01/25 – Scabby-heided
Infested with head lice.
Infested with head lice.
18/01/25 – Torn face
A person with a sulky peevish face.
A person with a sulky peevish face.
11/01/25 – Gigot
A leg of mutton; also used of pork and beef.
A leg of mutton; also used of pork and beef.
04/01/25 – Keelie
A male city-dweller, an uncouth rowdy fellow.
A male city-dweller, an uncouth rowdy fellow.
