Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

CALEERY, adj. and n.

1. adj. “Light; vain; full of mischief” (Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.).

Hence (1) caleeriness, “giddiness; fun; mischief” (Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.); (2) caleeried, frivolously conceived.(2) Uls. 1897 A. McIlroy When Lint was in the Bell vi.:
The members of the fair sex especially were hard on Nancy, and expressed much pity for poor Harvey in the circumstances in which he was placed. “Just a caleeried notion of Nancy's,” they affirmed; “she'll be waur afore she's better, am thinkin'.”

2. n. “A silly, light-hearted person; a harum-scarum” (Ant. 1931 J.C. in North. Whig (14 Dec.) 9/6).Uls. 1900 A. McIlroy By Lone Craig-Linnie Burn 129:
This'll maybe b' yin' o' thir singin' hizzies . . . these flichty caleeries 'at ir furiver rinnin' tae choir practices.