Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1824-1836, 1891-1935
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0]
BLICHAN, BLICHEN, Blicham, Blichin, Blichim, Blecham, n. "In general a term of abuse or contempt" (Ags.2 1934). Lit. and fig. [′blɪçən, ′blɪçəm]
1. "A contemptuous designation for a person" (Ags.2 1934; Per. 1808 Jam., blicham).Ags. 1891 Brechin Advert. (22 Sept.) 3:
Ah, little did the blecham think That he'd be there afore her.Lth. 1825 Jam.2:
"He's a puir blichan." "You! ye're a bonny blichen indeed to pretend sic a thing!"Edb. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick xvii.:
I hae wit eneuch to see through a blichan o' a la'yer, onyway!Peb. 1836 J. Affleck Poet. Wks. 111:
There's no sic a blichim 'twixt Ayr and Dundee, As the velveteen hero ca'd Jamie Brownlee.
2. A lean, worn-out, worthless animal or person.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 75:
Blichan. A person useless for any thing.Kcb.9 1935, obsol.Dmf. 1825 Jam.2:
An auld blichen o' a beast. Also, a worthless fellow.
3. ‡(1) "A spark; a lively, shewy young man" (Lth. 1825 Jam.2).
(2) "A harum-scarum fellow" (Lnk. Ib.).Kcb.4 c.1900:
Blichin, a lighthearted person given to frivolity.
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Blichan n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/blichan>
