Editor's Corner

The other day I heard from a retired Jack Henrian who sent me a list of terms he found in a book he’s reading. He said they were Scottish terms, though when I looked them up, a variety of English-speaking nations claimed to be the main users. Here are the ones I could find a definition for. Some of the results are AI, others are from Scotsmagazine and the Scottish National Dictionary.

dob him in
Knock or strike; to report, inform against, or turn over someone to an authority, especially the police. A noun or pronoun can be used between "dob" and "in." (Australia, New Zealand)

blowing a hoolie
A Scottish and Irish idiom meaning it is extremely windy, gale-force, or storming outside. Orkney Scots word hoolan (a strong gale).

chap the door
"Chapping the door" (or "chap-door-run") refers to an (often Scottish) term for a childhood prank where someone knocks on or bangs on a door and runs away before it is opened. It is also commonly known as "Ding Dong Ditch" or "Knock Knock Ginger".

biddable
Biddable is considered a word of Scottish origin, to describe someone obedient, docile, or easily managed. It dates back to the late 18th century and is frequently used to describe children or animals that readily follow orders or requests.

took a scunner
To develop a strong, sudden, or unreasonable dislike, aversion, or disgust towards someone or something.

shoogly

Wobbly, shaky, or unsteady. Often used to describe unstable furniture, it is best known from the idiom "yer jaiket’s on a shoogly peg" (your jacket is on a shaky hook), which means your position or job is precarious.

Totally scuppered him!
Means that someone or something completely defeated, ruined, or put an end to a person’s plans.

bin off/bin him
An informal, mostly British phrase meaning to discard, reject, abandon, or end a relationship with someone.

skint
Skint is slang for having no cash left. Quite commonly used in the UK and Australia.

[KC – This reminded me of “skinflint” meaning stingy or miserly. Skinflint is derived from 17th-century slang implying that someone is so stingy
they would “skin a flint” (peel skin off a rock).]

Gossiping and wittering on
"Wittering on" is an informal British English phrase referring to the act of talking, chattering, or babbling at length about unimportant or boring topics.

It’s not like we’re skiving!
Skiving (primarily British, Australian, and NZ slang) refers to the act of avoiding work, school, or responsibilities, often by faking illness, leaving early, or not showing up without permission. (Described as “playing hooky” in American English.)

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Knowledge Enablement

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

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