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...
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...
banana skin n.— «Italy are a good side—they won two games in the Six Nations and pushed Ireland in the warm-ups and most of them have beaten Scotland before. This, therefore, is not a “banana skin”; it’s what the French call a...
stooshie n. a fight; a fuss, commotion, or to-do. Etymological Note: According to the Dictionary of the Scots Language, under the spelling stashie this term dates to at least as early as 1824. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
bampot n.— «Labour’s Scots erupted in uproar, shouting “Ye silly bampot” at Mr Greenway and the old dialect phrase: “goo boil ye heed.”» —“The Day in Politics: Border skirmish has Sassenachs out in...
stooshie n.— «There seems to have been a little bit of a stooshie (a mild altercation, to those South of the Border) on the subject of Barbara Cartland.» —“Barbara Cartland’s ‘pink monstrosity’ enrages Scots” by Maev...