Scottish disease n.— «Where MS comes from and what triggers it remains a mystery, but it is believed to be at least partly hereditary. It is sometimes known as the “Scottish disease” as this country has the highest...
fearty n.— Note: The Dictionary of the Scots Language also includes the spelling feardie. «Independence is the big question behind current Scottish politics. If unionists avoid asking it, they look like what the Scots call...
freemale n.— «Sex and the City’s acknowledgement that life could be good without a man in it, particularly if you were rich, led to a whole new generation of emancipated, moneyed women shouting loudly about just how much they loved their...
double effect n.— «Palliative care, though improved, is not always effective. It is an open secret that many doctors hasten the deaths of patients in pain and misery under the guise of relieving their symptoms, a procedure known as...
A man whose last name is McCoy wants a definitive answer about the origin of the expression “the real McCoy.” He’s been told it comes from the name of turn-of-the-century boxing champ Kid McCoy. Is that really the case? Grant and...
snit n.— «Snirt is a colloquialism for a combination of snow and dirt or litter found in city streets, and snit is the term used for the combination of snow and dog faeces.» —“Snow: A brief history” by Adam...