Language Lessons

This first year in Scotland is my familiarization year.  It is a year of grace in which I have the opportunity to settle in and learn about the culture and church before taking on a parish of my own.  

Part of this familiarization has involved learning how things operate and how to operate myself within this culture.  It has also included unintentional language lessons -- those times in conversation when I have looked at someone in clear confusion as I tried to interpret what they just said.  I have, of course, returned the favor (one conversation included the phrase catty-cornered, which caused great amusement).

So, I now share with you a variety of new words for your edification, in no particular order...




Dreich, mingin' = gray, rainy, dreary.  Apparently, dreich is a bit "nicer" way to say it


rammy, stooshy, stramash = argument.  These are all about the same in terms of intensity, from what I understand.  A stramash can also be a disturbance.


bidie-in = your significant other with whom you live, without being married


dear = expensive


stocious = drunk 


chuffed = pleased about something


brass-necked = arrogant


bamboozled = confused


kerfuffle = confusion.  You can have a kerfuffle in a situation or your papers and things might be in a kerfuffle


dingin' doon = pouring down rain


to grass someone out = to rat them out


skip = dumpster


teuchter = a country person


waistcoat = vest


vest = camisole


braces = suspenders


wool = yarn, be it wool, cotton, or acrylic, or anything else


suss out = figure something out, work it out