Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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HASHIE, adj. Also hashy.

1. Of persons: slap-dash, careless or slovenly in dress, work or habits (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Cai. 1902 E.D.D.; Sh., em.Sc.(a), m.Lth., s.Sc. 1956). Edb. c.1870 Mod. Sc. Poets (Edwards) VI. 211:
He is nae fashious wean, nor fu' o' sulks an thraws, Nor hashie like the swine, or noisy like the craws.Lnk. 1880 G. Short in Clydesdale Readings 110:
They never get abune a meeserably hashy, nondescrip', guddlin' sort o' existence.Edb. 1884 R. F. Hardy Jock Halliday i.:
A broad comely-faced woman, but exceedingly "hashy" in her appearance and dress.m.Sc. 1917 O. Douglas The Setons i.:
I could not trust Annie in here, poor girl! She had such hashy ways.Fif. 1953:
A hashie mason would give 3 or 4 bats to the inch, whereas a good workman would give 7 or 8, resulting in a much smoother finish.Comb. hashy quarter, see quot.Edb. 1859 F. W. Bedford Heriot's Hosp. 343:
Hashy-quarter, the three months before June Day. During this period the boys might go to the town in a slovenly or hashy state, without shaming the callants.

Hence (1) hashiness, slovenliness; (2) Adv. hashly (< hashily). (1)Fif. 1899 Proc. Philosoph. Soc. Gsw. xxx. 55:
The elder sister, fikey and perjink, was severe on a younger brother's hashiness.(2)Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) II. 57:
With Brose and Bannocks poorly fed, In Hoden Gray right hashly cled.

2. Of an employer: given to urging on his staff, slave-driving (Cai., Kcb. 1956).

3. Of weather: wet or windy or both, stormy, with wind or rain (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Fif., m.Lth., Kcb. 1956). Cf. Hash, n. 6.Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 238:
Ae gay hashy day, I think about the tail o' the tawtie-lifting.Lth., Bwk. 1825 Jam.:
A hashy day, one in which there are frequent showers, so as to render walking unpleasant, from the dirtiness of the streets or roads.Bnff. 1923 Banffshire Jnl. (19 June) 8:
The old salt said, "Hit, it's a bonnie nicht; j'ist a fine hashy nicht."

4. Of work: heavy, strenuous, fatiguing (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; m.Lth. 1956).