Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1879-1928, 1996
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FEERICH, n., v. Also feerach, feeroch, feiroch; ferrich. [′fi:rɪç]
I. n. 1. Ability, activity, energy (Upp. Cld. 1825 Jam., feeroch, feiroch; Bnff.2, Abd.2 1942); an impulse. Adj. ferrichie, robust, strong (Upp. Cld. 1825 Jam.).Abd. 1903 Abd. Wkly. Free Press (28 Feb.):
Their fader wis aye a peer dowie breet, an' th' midder hidna muckle feerich at wark.Abd. 1928 J. Baxter A' Ae 'Oo' 20:
Swift the oor o' feerich passes.Abd. 1996 Sheena Blackhall Wittgenstein's Web 88:
Twa feerichs focht in his breist; he cudna think o baith thegither, nor follae ain wioot the tither.
2. A state of agitation or excitement (Cai. 1907 D. B. Nicolson in County of Cai. 71, feerach; Bnff.9, Abd.27 1951) or of rage (Per. 1808 Jam.; Cai. 1907 Nicolson); a bustle, a fuss; a panic (Cai.8 1934; Mry.2 1939; Abd.27 1951). Hence deriv. or reduplic. forms feerach-farroch (Abd.8 1917), feerochie-farrochie (Ags.18 1948), bustle, confusion, feerochrie, rage (Per. 1825 Jam.).Abd. a.1880 W. Robbie Yonderton (1929) 124:
Weel, railly, it happen't so suddent, an' I wiz jist in siccan a feerich 'at it never occurr't t' ma t' sen' word t' you.Bnff. 1924 Swatches o' Hamespun 24:
I'd Mistress M'Snash in, Tyesday'll be aucht days, in an aafa feerich aboot the expense o' byeuks.Abd. 1926 Abd. Univ. Review (July) 225:
Bit A some doot 'at the fussy kin' o' folk lang back war in a sad feeroch wi' fat ye ca' their simple joys.
II. v. To bustle; to be agitated; to fumble through excitement. Esp. in vbl.n. and ppl.adj. feerichin (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; Cai. 1907 D. B. Nicolson in County of Cai. 71; Abd.15 1950).Abd. 1924 Swatches o' Hamespun 83:
Ben I gid feerichin, an' syne I begood Te shiel them intill their lowin bed.
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"Feerich n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 7 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/feerich>
