Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PICHER, n., v. Also picker (Abd. 1936 Huntly Express (28 Feb.)), pucher; pecher. [′pɪçər]

I. n. 1. A state of confusion or muddle, an excited or overwrought state of mind, a “dither”, flurry, pickle (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 125; Uls. 1953 Traynor; ne.Sc., Ags. 1965). Also dim. pichertie, -y, id.Abd. 1898 J. R. Imray Sandy Todd xi.:
I wis in an unco picher fin I thocht ye micht hae naething tae dee wi' the likes o' me.Abd. 1899 G. Greig Logie o' Buchan v.:
Tak' your ain time. I'm nae jist in sic an awfu' picherty as a' that.Abd. 1915 H. Beaton Benachie 48:
I'm in a picher tae ken fa's gaun tae Inrury the morn.Bnff. 1965 Scotsman (20 Nov.) Suppl. 5:
Fin she never heard him come back, She got in a bit o'a pecher.

2. A useless, ineffective person, a muddler, one who is habitually in an excited and disorganized state (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 125; Bnff., Abd. 1965).

II. v. To work in an unplanned and disorganized way, to muddle along, “fiddle” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 125; Uls. 1953 Traynor; ne.Sc. 1965). Hence picherin, fumbling, ineffectual, unmethodical (Ib.); pichert, puchert, at a loss, perplexed, “flummoxed”, unable to “cope” (Bnff., Abd. 1965). Also agent n. picherer, = I. 2. (Abd. 1965), freq. of a half-hearted eater.Abd. 1928 J. Baxter A' Ae 'Oo'23:
Peer Isie picher't i' the room wi' buiks fae dawn till late. .Abd. 1993:
I'm jist picherin aboot in e hoose or e rain stops.