Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1851-1929
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GHAISTLY, adj. Also gaistly. Gen.Sc. forms of Eng. ghostly. See P.L.D. §32. Also used adv.Edb. 1851 A. Maclagan Sk. from Nature 157:
Enough, auld frien'; sic ghaistly rant Would aggravate a holy saunt.Kcb. 1894 Crockett Raiders i.:
It'll be waur for ye gin the Ghaistly Hounds get a grip o' your shins, Gil, my man. They draw men quick to hell!Lnk. 1922 T. S. Cairncross Scot at Hame 13:
And lookin' roun' wi' gaistly glowr, He yawned and said “It's near a' owre”.ne.Sc. 1929 M. W. Simpson Day's End 12:
Attour the hill the mists are creepin' grey, The shadows lengthen ghaistly 'yont the linn.
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"Ghaistly adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 8 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/ghaistly>
