Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

†ERLISH, adj. Unearthly, uncanny. Also ¶erlich.wm.Sc. c.1800 in Folk-Lore Rec. I. 236:
When they cam' the kirk within, An erlish cry he made.Sc. 1802 Scott Border Minstrelsy II. 242:
Up there raise an erlish cry.Slk. 1820 Hogg Winter Ev. Tales II. 220:
That hallo so erlich and shrill.