From the Borders to Shetland, Scots have a variety of local and regional dialects that are filled with excellent words for describing any given situation or thing.
Here are some of the brilliant examples used for commonplace items or things.
1. Tartle
One of those uniquely Scottish words, it refers to that brief moment when you meet someone and you hesitate as you try to remember their name.
2. Doocot
The shortened form doocot (dovecot) hole - this Scots word refers to a wee hole or slot you place something in.
"Here, stick this in that doocot over there."
3. Coorie
This wonderful word is used to decribe someone snuggling up to or nestling in to either a person or a thing.
4. Bogle
This word, which traditionally refers to a terrifying ghost or spectre, has found more recent usage in reference to a type of scarecrow - as in a 'tattie-bogle', a scarecrow used to protect potato or turnip fields.
5. Breenge
The perfect descriptor for confidently pushing (or should that be barging) your way in or through a crowd.
"That guy just breenged right in."
6. Bumfle
A lovely little word that refers to a wrinkle or unsightly bulge in your clothing.
7. Hirple
The Scots version of hobble - to walk with a limp.
8. Drookit
To get extremely wet or drenched - usually refers to someone who has got caught in a downpour.
"Yer clothes are drookit fae getting caught in that rain there."
9. Drouth
A heavy thirst - most usually at the start of the day when you need a drink most, or more informally when you really want a pint.
10. Fankle
To get something all tangled up, particularly useful when referring to the state of your earphones or Christmas lights coming out of storage.
11. Nyaff
Someone who is extremely annoying, and in particular is fond of their own voice.
12. Gloaming
This wonderful word which has fallen out of regular use, refers to the evening twilight or dusk.
13. Bahookie
A wonderfully descriptive way of referring to someone's behind.
"Sit on your bahookie and listen."
14. Gallus
Usually used in reference to someone who is overconfident or thinks they are the bee's knees. Supposedly derived from a word meaning someone who is a bit of a rascal (fit for the gallows).
15. Smirr
That light rain that you can barely even see or feel but gets you very, very wet.
16. Peely-wally
A great word for describing someone who's looking pale or sickly looking.
17. Shoogly
The brilliant sounding Scottish version of shaky or unsteady.
18. Stocious
Someone is drunk enough to be a step or two above tipsy but just below blootered on the drunken scale.
19. Stooshie/Stramash
Two great words for describing a bit of a commotion - though Stramash usually refers to a bit more of a brawl.
20. Thrapple
A brilliantly random word for a person's throat.
21. Stravaig
To wander aimlessly or without direction, in Scotland this is usually in reference to having a meander around some beautiful scenery.
Bonus word - Outwith
Beautiful in its simplicity and usefulness, this means outside a given thing - we bet you didn't know it was only used in Scotland.
