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 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

‡KEERIOUS, adj. Also kirious, kireous; kwerious (Abd. 1879 G. Macdonald Sir Gibbie II. xxx.; Bnff.⁴ 1926; Abd. 1959). ne.Sc. forms of Eng. curious. See P.L.D. § 128. Hence keeriousness, strangeness, queerness. [′k(w)iriəs]Abd. 1832 W. Scott Poems 134:
An' seldom but there's bits o' jots For kireous cheels wi' scarlet coats. [Ib. 39, kirious].Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxxvii.:
The elder Peter moralised in his own way on the “keeriousness” of the whole thing.Abd. 1889 Bon-Accord (30 Nov.) 17:
I saw a lot o' kwerious things.Bch. 1906 J. Christie Drachlaw Revisited 39:
There micht ha'e been some keerious craters, Wi' soople tongues an' sharp-set features.