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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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DRIFFLE, v., n. Also dreefle.

1. v.

(1) To drizzle, to rain or snow slightly (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 185; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); also used with on (Slk. 1825 Jam.²).Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 19:
The daggy drowe comes drifflin on.

(2) To scold (Bnff.² 1940; Abd.²⁴ 1916, dreefle; Abd.⁹ 1940, driffle; Ags.¹ 1920, dreefle). Vbl.n. drifflin'.Abd. 1898 J. R. Imray Sandy Todd 3:
I catcht him at the same trick ae day afore, an' gaed him a terrible drifflin'.Bch. 1929 (per Abd.¹):
Dyod, lassie, ye'll get a gey drifflin' for brakin' that auld jug.

2. n.

(1) (a) A slight shower of rain or snow (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Slk. 1825 Jam.²; Dmf. 1950); (b) a short spell of stormy weather (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 42), a gale (Bnff.², Abd.⁹ 1940).(a) Sc. 1931 J. Buchanan in Sc. Ed. Jnl. (18 Dec.):
. . . the win' blaws caul' an' keen Wi' driffles noo an' then o' snaw.(b) Bch. 1929 (per Abd.¹):
There'll be a driffle of wind oot o' that black bunkart o' clood.

(2) (a) A quantity of work done with speed (Bnff.² 1940).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D.Bnff. 42:
He's gehn through a gueede driffle o' wark the last day or twa.

(b) Haste, speed.Abd.⁷ 1925:
When work is done with great speed, it is said to have been "caa'd throu' wi' a gey driffle."

(3) A scolding (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 42; Bnff.², Abd.² 1940; Ags.¹ 1920); rough handling.Bnff. 1869 W. Knight Auld Yule 67:
Nae wonder, then, she wasna fain To let a chiel gi'e her a driffle, For fear he'd brak' her pipit bords, And cockernonny a' curfuffle.Abd. 1924 Swatches 46:
The hens fyles got a driffle tee Fin ye wis keen.Abd.¹⁵ 1928:
A got a gey driffle for daein yon!