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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SQUEEF, n., v. Also squeaf-, squiff. A mean, disreputable character, shabby in appearance and worthless in conduct; used generally as a term of abuse (Gall. 1824 MacTaggert Gallov. Encycl. 435, Dmf., Rxb. 1825 Jam.; Dmf. 1899 Country Schoolmaster (Wallace) 354; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; wm., sm. and s.Sc. 1971); and, with less pejorative force, a male flirt or jilter (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.), a mischievous lad (Ib.).Sc. 1876 Bk. of Sc. Story 489:
Come back, ye squiff.Wgt. 1877 “Saxon” Gall. Gossip 194:
A drucken squeef of a fellow.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr. Duguid 237:
She was seen an' kent singin' on the streets wi' the squeef she had ta'en up wi'.Slk. 1899 C. M. Thomson Drummeldale 151:
If that squeef, Airthur Hamilton, only keeps away till oo're mairrit, it'll bei a' richt.Ags. 1988 Raymond Vettese The Richt Noise 17:
" ... here's the wyce tune
aince mair awa an' dinnillin lugs
wi a wow! that disna lippen on drugs
but's a ferlie gien a dicht tae the glum,
tae ilka thowless squeef, tae aa we've become. ... " Ayr. 2000:
Ye drunken squeef.

Derivs. (1) squeaffish, disreputable, mean-looking, base; (2) squeefy, id.(1) Dmf. 1903 J. L. Waugh Thornhill 166:
Weel, weel, ye've baith a guid name and a guid job, — no like me, wi' a squeaffish name like Baggarel.(2) Sc. 1913 H. P. Cameron Imit. Christ III. xii.:
Oh hoo wauf, hoo swickfu', ondeemas an' squeefy are a' thir pleesures!Ayr. 1890 J. Service Notandums 41:
Alice trig and bonnie as ever, but Rab vera squeefy and disjaskit.