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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

‡TRAILACH, v., n., adj. Also trailoch, traloch. [′treləx]

I. v. 1. intr., gen. followed by advs. about, in, ower, through: to walk or go about in a careless, idle or slovenly manner (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 196; Uls. 1953 Traynor); also tr. with at, wi, to work at in an inept slovenly manner, to handle carelessly or dirtily, to over-nurse, coddle (Gregor). Ppl.adj., vbl.n. trailachan, -in, slovenly (work) (Ib.).

†2. tr. with out: to draw or drag out (Gregor).

II. n. 1. Any long dirty trailing piece of rope, cloth, etc. (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 196, Bnff. 1972).

2. (1) The act of working or handling anything in a dirty, messy, slovenly manner; with wi, a cossetting, coddling, fussing over (Gregor).

(2) A person of dirty slovenly habits, gen. applied to women, a slattern, slut (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 452; Kcb. 1900).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 196:
That's a fool clypin' trailach o' a dehm.

3. The act of wandering from place to place idly, a gadding about (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 196).

¶III. adj. Weakly, ailing.Abd. 1921 T.S.D.C.:
Oor Charlie's been tralach a's days.