Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1902-1942
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0]
KEEROCH, n., v. Also kweerich, queerach (Gregor). [′k(w)irəç, Bnff. + ′kurəç]
I. n. A contemptuous term for any strange or messy mixture (Abd. 1825 Jam.; ne.Sc. 1959); awkward and ineffectual work; over-dainty nursing (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 136); an untidy person (Abd. 1959).Abd. 1902 E.D.D.:
That's a keeroch o' porridge I left yesterday.Abd. 1919 T.S.D.C.:
She's a rael queeroch in her ain hoose.Abd.2 1942:
Her mither hid to tell Jean her cookin' hid turned oot a sair keeroch.
II. v. To stir or poke about messily; to work awkwardly and ineffectually, to nurse over-daintily (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 136; Abd. 1959). Also vbl.n. queerachan; ppl.adj. kweerichin, queerachin, awkward and unskilful (Gregor; Abd. 1911 Weekly Jnl. (20 Jan.), Abd. 1959).Abd.2 1942:
The loons were a' doon at the waterins keerichin' aboot an' fylin' the water.
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Keeroch n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 12 Jan 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/keeroch>
