Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FARRACH, n., v. Also f(y)arroch. [′f(j)ɑrəx]

I. n. 1. Strength, energy, “go” (Mry.¹ 1928; ne.Sc. 1946); pith, substance, e.g. of food (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 44). Adjs. farrochie, energetic (Abd. 1900 E.D.D.), farrochless, feeble (Rnf. 1837 Crawfurd MS. XI. 307).Abd. 1742 R. Forbes Ajax (1748) 16:
Bat his weak head nae farrach has That helmet for to bear.ne.Sc. 1802 Edb. Mag. (July) 55:
Fu' fain to mark What farrach's i' your eident quill.Ags. 1820 A. Balfour Contemplation 272:
Warslin' frae ae wreath to anither, John tint his farrach a' thegither.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 44:
That things o' buns hae nae farrach at a' i' the noo.Abd.¹ 1929:
Tibbie wis a fenless craitur, nae farroch at cleanin' a hoose ava.

2. A bustle, state of agitation, a “to-do” a mix-up (Ags. 1950).Abd. 1898 W. Brewster Poems 48:
To beckon them ben wi' a kindly smirk, But wi' little farroch or din.Abd.¹⁵ 1928:
She wis in a terr'le farrach aboot the littlens nae hame fae the skweel, an it come on sic a nicht o' blauvin' drift.

II. v. To fuss, fiddle about.Abd. 1941 C. Gavin Black Milestone vi.:
She had neither the time nor the siller to stand and fyarroch wi' almond paste and icin' sugar.