Below is a comprehensive glossary with the basic intended meanings of the Scots words used in The Ambulance Box. For pronunciation, as well as further meanings and nuances, readers are encouraged to consult a good Scots dictionary, such as the comprehensive online Dictionary of the Scots Language.
The DSL, which is free to access, combines the 12-volume Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (which covers the period to 1700), the 10-volume Scottish National Dictionary (which covers 1700 to the present day) and the two more recent supplements to the latter. In addition to the searchable dictionary, the website provides a wealth of information on the history and development of the language and the process of its lexicography.
Readers interested in further exploring the contemporary Scots world, including the sound of the language, should explore the riches on offer at the Scots Language Centre.
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GLOSSARY
awgaits = everywhere
aboot = about
abuin = above
ae = one, only
agin = against
ahint = behind
ainly = only
airms = arms
alang = along
alangside = alongside
amang = among
ane = one
aneath = beneath
anent = about, opposite
apencast = opencast
auld boy = elderly gentleman
aw = all
aw airts = in every direction
aw Jock Tamson’s bairns = all Adam’s children
awauk = awake
awready = already
awthing = everything
baest = beast
bairn = child
ben = inside the house
bigg = build
bing = slag heap
birl = spin, whirl
blae = blue
bleeze = blaze
blin = blind
blootered = battered
bluid = blood
bodie = person, one (impersonal pronoun)
brae = hill, hillside
braid = broad
brainches = branches
braw = excellent
breid = bread
bricht = bright
bunnet = cap
burn = stream
buss = bush
by ma/their lane = on my/their own
cadge = beg
cairrage = carriage
caller = fresh
cam = came
cannie = careful
cauld = cold
chow = chew
chynge = change
clarsach = harp
cleek = catch
coontenance = countenance
coorie doun = nestle
coup = (n) dump; (v) overturn
coupit = upside down
craigs = cliffs
craiturs = creatures
cried = called, named
crood = crowd
cuid(nae) = could (not)
daith = death
daunert = strolled, sauntered
daurin = dearing
daurk = dark
day-daw = break of day
deid = dead
devaul = stop, cease
douce = pleasant
doun = down
dreich = dismal
drystane = drystone
dug = dog
een = eyes
efter = after
errants = errands
ettlin = essaying, aiming
fae = from
fameeliar = familiar
faulds = folds
faur = far
faw = fall
Fawkirk = Falkirk
fell = extremely
fin = find
flichterin = fluttering
flooer = flower
follae = follow
fou = full, drunk
fowk = folk, people
freinlyness = friendliness
freins = friends
gaed = went
gar = cause, compel
gart her grue = made her shudder
gaun = going
gey = very
gied = gave
gin = if
gleg = fast
gless = glass
gloamin = dusk
grund = ground
guddle = confusion
guid = good
hae = have
hail = whole
hame = home
harns = brains
haud = hold
hauf = half
haun = hand
heich = high
heicht = hight
heidie-like = haughtily
heivins = heavens
herbour = harbour
hersel = herself
herts = hearts
het = hot
hing = hang
hink = think
hirpled = crippled
hissel = himself
hit = it (emphatic)
hou = how
hous = house
howp = hope
hunner = hundred
hunnerwecht = hundredweight
ile = oil
ilk ane = each one
ilka = every
ingineerin = engineering
intil = into
ither = other
itsel = itself
juist = just
keek = peek, peer, look sharply
ken = know
kennin = knowing
kenspeckle = easily recognisable
kinnels = kindles
kintrae = country
kythed = appear
lang = long
langsomeness = lonliness
leet = list
leid = language
let-be = forbearance
licht = light
lochan = small loch
lowse = set loose
mair = more
mairrage = marriage
maist = most
mak = make
malafoosterin = ruination, wrecking
meedows = meadows
muckle = big, much
mucklegrown = grown big
neb = nose
neist = next
neives = fists
nicht = night
nocht = nothing
nou = now
nummer = number
oncome = advent
ontil = onto
ony = any
oot = out
ootgang = exit
ootowre = throughout
ower = over(ly)
ower muckle = too much
pech = sigh
peelie-wally = pallid
peerie = small
pridefou = proud
puirtith = poverty
quait = quiet
quait-like = quietly
rax = reach
reid = red
rin = run
roch = rough
roun = round
sair afeart = terribly afraid
sait = seat
sang = song
scrummlin = scramble
scunner = disgust, repulse
shaddae = shaddow
shair = sure
siccar = certain
sicht = sight
siller = money, silver
simmer = summer
skail = spill
skeel = skill
skelf = splinter
smirr = a fine rain
smoor = extinguish
sneck = snatch
sorra = sorrow
souch = sigh, sound of the wind
sounless = soundless
southren = southern
sowel = soul
speir = ask
spirlie = thin, slender
stairt = start
staun = stand
steikit = clenched
sternfu = star filled
stern = star
stounin = ringing
strauchle = struggle
stravaig = wander
stuid = stood
syne = then, so
tae = to
taen = taken, took
taen awa fae = taken away from
tak = take
thae = those
thir = these
thrashel = threshold
til = to
tint = lost
tongue-tackit = tongue-tied
toun = town
traivelin = travelling
tuimness = emptiness
twae = two
ugsomeness = ugliness
unco = strange, wonderous
unfauld = unfold
unnerstaun = understand
unquait = unquiet
unsiccar = uncertain
ure = ore
vyce = voice
wark = work
warld = world
warsle = wrestle
wauken = waken
waukent = wakened, awake
waw = wall
wecht = weight
wey = way, road
wha = who (interrog.)
whase = whose
whaur = where
whit = what
whit wey = how
whyles = sometimes
wi = with
widnae = would not
wioot = without
wir = our
wirker = worker
wis = was
wuid = wood
wynd = narrow street or alley
yammer = lament
yella-heidit = yellow-haired
yersel = you, yourself
yince = once
yird = earth
yon = that, those (but more distant)
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