Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1824-1842, 1933
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HUMOURSOME, adj. Also humorsome. Sc. usage: humorous, droll, witty (Uls. 1953 Traynor; n. and em.Sc.(a) 1957). Also found in Eng. dial.Sc. 1824 Scott Redgauntlet Letter xi.:
He thought his companion might be some humoursome chield that was trying to frighten him.Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch (1898) ix.:
He began with some of his drolls — for he is a clever humoursome man as ye ever met with.Abd. 1832 W. Scott Poems 37:
Tho' Jess be frank, an' humorsome an' kind.m.Sc. 1842 A. Rodger Stray Leaves 186:
He lilts a good sang ower a tankard o' ale, He cracks a good joke, too, wi' humorsome glee.Fif. 1933 J. Ressich Thir Braw Days 42:
The dance that the banker, wha wis a humoursome gentleman, led Kelty's backers.
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"Humoursome adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 10 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/humoursome>
