Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1745, 1819-1949
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MISCHANCY, adj. 1. Unlucky, unfortunate, unhappy (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 114; Lth., Cld. 1880 Jam., Cai. 1903 E.D.D.; Uls. 1924 Northern Whig (10 Jan.); ne. and em.Sc. (a), sm. and s.Sc. 1963). Also in Eng. dial.Sc. 1745 Scots Mag. (June) 275:
Our wint'rings too, will drown in bogs and glens, Fa' o'er high crags, and get mischancy ends.Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch xix.:
In case the flames should, by ony mischancy accident or other, happen to break out again.Uls. 1895 J. Barlow Lisconnel 210:
Last week I got laid up wid this mischancy could.Bnff. 1934 J. M. Caie Kindly North 48:
But aft they [flowers] were, in some mischancy 'oor, A' blaadit by the cranreuch an' the snaw.
2. Risky, fraught with danger (Lth., Cld. 1880 Jam.). Gen.Sc.; of persons: untrustworthy, of questionable reputation.Sc. 1819 Blackwood's Mag. (Sept.) 637:
Country Laird, attracted from afar, With some mischancy Writer to engage.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 114:
He wiz at a gey mis-chancy ploy.Sc. 1887 Stevenson Underwoods 117:
Alang the steep roof stoyt an' stammer A gate mis-chancy.wm.Sc. 1907 N. Munro Daft Days xxix.:
Oh, it's a mischancy thing a mairrage, Miss Dyce.Rxb. 1913 Kelso Chron. (16 May) 3:
When this mischancy scheme was mooted, A bonnie row there was aboot it.Per. 1949 Scots Mag. (Jan.) 165:
Farming on the Isla is now a most mischancy business.
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"Mischancy adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Aug 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/mischancy>
