Show Search Results Show Browse

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SHAFFIE, n., adj. Also shaffy.

I. n. A frivolous excuse (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 154). See also Sheefie-Shaffie.

II. adj. Prevaricating, shifty, inclined to seek excuses, evasive.Sc. 1752 Session Papers, Scott v. Dantzy and Wallington (3 Jan.):
Mr Wilson was a shaffy sort of Man, for which Reason he did not choose to have his Bill presented to him before his Letter of Advice should come to Hand.

[Reduced deriv. by back formation from Eng. dial. shaffle, to shuffle, vacillate, be evasive, prob. of imit. orig. See Sheefie-shaffie.]

You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.

"Shaffie n., adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/shaffie>

23516

snd

Hide Advanced Search

Browse SND:

    Loading...

Share: