Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
HIRDUM-DIRDUM, n., adv.
I. n. Uproar, noisy mirth or revelry (Rxb. 1825 Jam., 1923 Watson W.-B.; Fif.2 1957), tumult, brawling. Also attrib. Found in n.Eng. dial.Sc. 1724 Ramsay T.-T. Misc. (1876) I. 9:
Sick hirdum, dirdum, and sick din.ne.Sc. 1791 Caled. Mercury (29 Sept.):
A' wha wud leid a canty life But hirdum dirdum, sturt or stryfe.Edb. 1791 J. Learmont Poems 27:
O a' ye hirdum-dirdum chiels, Your kintry's shame, an' faes' best shield!Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xiii.:
There comes a lood reishil at the front door whilk sent a stoond through oor stammacks, an' brocht the hirdum-dirdum to a sudden stand-still.
II. adv. Topsy-turvy (Rxb. 1825 Jam., ‡1923 Watson W.-B., Rxb. 1957).
[Reduplic. formation from Dirdum, q.v.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Hirdum-dirdum n., adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 28 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/hirdumdirdum>
