Dictionaries of the Scots Language (DSL) gives many senses for this word, ranging from “to plunge or thrust (a thing) into a (liquid), to submerge quickly” to “set down suddenly and heavily, to plump, plank, or slap down” and “to hit with a thump, punch”.
Dictionaries of the Scots Language defines macallum as “an ice flavoured with raspberry juice”.
Dictionaries of the Scots Language (DSL) describes wammelling as: “Of the stomach or its contents: to roll, to stir uneasily, rumble queasily”. It gives other definitions too, but for this piece we will stick with the stomach and its contents.
Dictionaries of the Scots Language (DSL) defines smool as: “To slink, sneak, go about furtively “ or “To behave obsequiously, to curry favour, to fawn, wheedle, ingratiate oneself, especially in the phrase ‘to smule in wi’, to cajole (a person), to ‘suck up to’”.
The earliest citation for this phrase in the Dictionaries of the Scots Language comes from John Galt’s Annals of the Parish (1821): “To admonish the bride and bridegroom to ca canny”. It is defined as “to proceed warily, to be moderate”.
This is not to suggest that we are a nation of complainers, but Scots does have some very good complaining words, and this is one of them.
These days we wouldn’t like to be described as sleekit given that the Dictionaries of the Scots Language definition “of persons or their words or actions: smooth in manner, plausible, ingratiating, unctuous; insinuating, sly, cunning, specious, not altogether to be trusted” is the most common usage. But sleekit also means “smooth, having an even surface or glossy skin”.
This term for a mid-morning snack given to a school child is recorded relatively late in the Dictionaries of the Scots Language (DSL).
The Dictionaries of the Scots Language (DSL) defines corn beef as “Rhyming slang for deef”.
Flummery is an old word for a type of sweet dish, which, according to the Oxford English Dictionary is “A name given to various sweet dishes made with milk, flour, eggs, etc.”
