Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1898-1993
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PICHER, n., v. Also picker (Abd. 1936 Huntly Express (28 Feb.)), pucher; pecher. [′pɪçər]
I. n. 1. A state of confusion or muddle, an excited or overwrought state of mind, a “dither”, flurry, pickle (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 125; Uls. 1953 Traynor; ne.Sc., Ags. 1965). Also dim. pichertie, -y, id.Abd. 1898 J. R. Imray Sandy Todd xi.:
I wis in an unco picher fin I thocht ye micht hae naething tae dee wi' the likes o' me.Abd. 1899 G. Greig Logie o' Buchan v.:
Tak' your ain time. I'm nae jist in sic an awfu' picherty as a' that.Abd. 1915 H. Beaton Benachie 48:
I'm in a picher tae ken fa's gaun tae Inrury the morn.Bnff. 1965 Scotsman (20 Nov.) Suppl. 5:
Fin she never heard him come back, She got in a bit o'a pecher.
2. A useless, ineffective person, a muddler, one who is habitually in an excited and disorganized state (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 125; Bnff., Abd. 1965).
II. v. To work in an unplanned and disorganized way, to muddle along, “fiddle” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 125; Uls. 1953 Traynor; ne.Sc. 1965). Hence picherin, fumbling, ineffectual, unmethodical (Ib.); pichert, puchert, at a loss, perplexed, “flummoxed”, unable to “cope” (Bnff., Abd. 1965). Also agent n. picherer, = I. 2. (Abd. 1965), freq. of a half-hearted eater.Abd. 1928 J. Baxter A' Ae 'Oo'23:
Peer Isie picher't i' the room wi' buiks fae dawn till late. .Abd. 1993:
I'm jist picherin aboot in e hoose or e rain stops.
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"Picher n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 7 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/picher>
