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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

UNCHANCY, adj. Also unchancie, unchauncy; oonchancy (Abd. 1928 Word-Lore III. 147), -chancie; onchancy. Inauspicious, unlucky; ill-omened, “spooky”, ill-fated; dangerous, threatening, treacherous, hazardous, not to be meddled with (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Fif., Lth., Ayr. 1923–6 Wilson). Gen.Sc. Also in Eng. dial. See Chancy, adj., Wanchancy. [ʌn′tʃɑnsi]Abd. p.1768 A. Ross Works (S.T.S.) 110:
Born i' the yerd wi' that unchancy coat.Ayr. 1786 Burns To J. Kennedy i.:
An' down the gate in faith they're worse, An' mair unchancy.Kcb. 1814 W. Nicholson Tales 36:
But the unchancie curs within Soon heard, an' made a gowlin' din.Sc. 1817 Scott Rob Roy xxiii.:
We gang-there-out Heiland bodies are an unchancy generation when you speak to us o' bondage.Edb. 1844 J. Ballantine Miller 102:
Galloping through the streets at midnight like unchancy things.Dmf. 1877 R. W. Thom Jock o' Knowe 2:
The lichtin' that slept in ilk bricht blue ee Wi' unchancy meaning awoke.Abd. 1909 C. Murray Hamewith 92:
Tempt not the far oonchancie main.Mry. 1914 H. J. Warwick Tales 46:
The mutch wis a gey bonny thing fan it wis weel goffert . . . nae like the onchancy flee-aboots they pit on their heids noo-adays.Arg. 1917 A. W. Blue Quay Head Tryst 72:
Dae ye see anythin' unchancy like aboot me?Slg. 1932 W. D. Cocker Poems 71:
Unchancy was't for ony wight To fa' beneath her spell.Sc. 1950 Scots Mag. (May) 144:
It's a kind o' an unchancy place at the best o' times.ne.Sc. 1952 John R. Allan North-East Lowlands of Scotland (1974) 187:
The farm of Burnside was an unchancy place. People going to the house at night, up the narrow road between the broombushes, were liable to be flung over the dyke, suddenly, headfirst into a whinbush. Suddenly - just like that. wm.Sc. 1987 Anna Blair Scottish Tales (1990) 23:
"The more do we need the priest if she's an unchancy being like that," said Neil firmly and sent them off to the Father's hut, not far back from the shore. Abd. 1995 Flora Garry Collected Poems 19:
Cam ye fae some idder warl,
Mysterious, oonchancy cat,
A speerit-craiter athoot faat,
To me, a feel, roch human carl? Abd. 1998 Sheena Blackhall The Bonsai Grower 47:
The verra cassies thirsels war glaissed like Chinee porcelain, unchauncy tae staun on, gin ye war a pensioner or a littlin nae siccar on yer feet.