Raining champion... dreich’s our top word

GIVEN the recent weather it is probably one of the most frequently used words in many a Scot’s vocabulary.

For what feels like the past few months, when it has not been freezing cold the weather has been decidedly dreich – which no doubt goes some way to explaining why it is Scotland’s favourite word.

Dreich, which generally means overcast, damp, cold and gloomy, beat glaikit, scunnered and shoogle to be named ‘most iconic Scots word’ by the Scottish Book Trust.

It received 259 of the 1,895 votes cast in a poll as part of Book Week Scotland, which was created in a bid to spark discussion around well-loved and well-used words.

Originally meaning ‘enduring’ or ‘slow, tedious’, over time dreich has come to be defined as ‘dreary or hard to bear’ and ‘dull or gloomy’.

Glaikit, defined as ‘stupid, foolish; thoughtless or irresponsible’, came second with 225 votes and with the seemingly never-ending constitutional upheaval facing the country it is probably little surprise that scunnered, which means bored or fedup, was in third. In fact the most upbeat word in the list – braw, defined as fine, good, or pleasing – does not appear until eighth place.

Scottish Book Trust chief executive Marc Lambert said: ‘We were overwhelmed by the many submissions for our iconic Scots words vote – it’s certainly a subject close to people’s hearts.

‘Dreich is such an evocative word with the ability to sum up the Scottish weather – or mood – perfectly. It’s also a word that is very well used here in Scotland and beyond. It’s fantastic to see the vibrant conversation around Scots language as we celebrate Book Week Scotland.’