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: 1786-1894, 1998
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†FLETHER, v., n. Also flaither.
I. v. To flatter, wheedle, cajole (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Per. 1825 Jam.).Also ppl.adj. Ayr. 1786 Burns Ded. to G. Hamilton i.:
Expect na, Sir, to this narration, A fleechan, fleth'ran Dedication.Ags. 1818 W. Gardiner Poems 39:
Fleechers fletherin', Critics bletherin'.Sc. a.1825 Donald and Flora 13:
Aye, flaither awa! Since I'll no do wi' foul play, try me wi' fair play.m.Sc. 1998 William Neill in Neil R. MacCallum Lallans 51 17:
An you athoot the harns ti read an write
or speik ti lick-ma-dowps that beck an bou -
deaved wi the fletherin tales ye hear thaim tell.
II. n. Gen. in pl.: flattery, fair words (s.Sc. 1825 Jam.) Also in n.Eng. dial.Dmf. 1821 H. Duncan Young S. Country Weaver 98:
Do you think to beguile me, wi' your fleeching and your flethers, to do the devil's wark?Gsw. 1868 J. Young Poems 139:
This, Tammie, is nae fleechin' flether.Edb. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick xiv.:
I thocht . . . he had sickened ye aince for a' wi' his fleechin an' flethers.
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"Flether v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 7 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/flether>
