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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
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.

QUEER, adj., adv., n. See also wheer. Sc. forms and usages:

I. adj. 1. As in Eng., odd, peculiar, strange; unwell, queasy. Hence derivs. (1) queersome, somewhat queer; (2) queerways, adv., in not quite a normal state, slightly unwell (Ork., Kcb. 1967); (3) que(e)ry, (i) adj., rather strange, oddish (Ags., Per. 1967); (ii) n., an oddity, a queer thing (Rnf. 1902 E.D.D., query; Ags., Edb. 1967).(1) Mry. 1865 W. Tester Poems 78:
We've tripped through mony a queersome reel.Abd. 1900 J. Milne Poems 3:
Ye a' hae heard how famous Neil Gaed stoiterin' hame a queersome reel.(2) Rnf. 1827 W. Taylor Poems 43:
When wee things there are making din In their fathers' arms. It maks me queer ways.Edb. 1876 J. Smith Archie and Bess 46:
I'm beginning to feel queer ways mysel'.(3) (i) Ags. 1889 Barrie W. in Thrums ix.:
Ou, losh, ay! it made me a kind o' queery to look at her.Ags. 1900 Barrie Tommy and Grizel xxvi.:
There's something queery about her though I canna bottom't.(ii) Rnf. 1835 D. Webster Rhymes 150:
It's strange to tell their fligmagaries, Their patent netts and catgut queries.Ags. 1856 W. Grant Poet. Pieces 36:
An' playin' at the bools an' peeries, An' hunders ither frisky queeries.Per. 1895 R. Ford Tayside Songs 249:
This warld's a queery — its freits an' its fykes.

†2. Amusing, funny, entertaining (Sc. 1787 J. Beattie Scoticisms 74, 1825 Jam.). Deriv. querish, rather comical.Sc. 1784 G. Caw Poet. Museum 61:
He'd gi' a punk, and look sae queer, Without a joke.Ayr. 1790 Burns Tam o' Shanter 49–50:
The soutar tauld his queerest stories, The landlord's laugh was ready chorus.Sc. 1799 H. Mitchell Scotticisms 69:
Queer, in English means odd, strange, singular. — In Scotland it is used in the sense of witty, humorous, comical. But a man may be queer who has not wit, and one may have wit without being queer.Ags. 1823 Scots Mag. (July) 30:
Whene'er this queer and comic lass But hinted up her keeking glass, They throng'd in bourachs at her ca'.Kcb. 1848 J. Hughan Poems 16:
Ye at them turns your head gay sly Wi' querish wink.

3. As an intensive: considerable, very great (Wgt. 1950), freq. in phr. a queer lot, a large amount, a considerable quantity. Gen.Sc., appar. of Irish origin.Kcb.⁶ 1916:
There's a queer draught comes in at your door.Rxb. 1921 Hawick Express (12 Aug.):
There must bei a queer lot o' money in th' world yet — notwithstandin' short time an' bad trade.Mry. 1959 Bulletin (23 May):
Seven cats, all with kittens, can perish a queer lot of the stuff.Uls. 1993:
There was a queer lot o folk at the funeral. Edb. 1995:
A queer amount of folk. Gall. 1999:
There's a queer bank o sand there. There's a queer pile o coal there. It cost 10p in that shop but its 50p here. There's a queer difference.

II. adv. 1. In an odd manner, in a peculiar way; as an intensive: very. Combs. queer-gotten, of a child: of uncertain parentage; queer-ta'en, taken aback, surprised, disconcerted.m.Lth. 1858 Dark Night 222:
I saw the queer-ta'en look ye gi'ed; but I daursay ye wadna think I flang't oot as a jibe.ne.Sc. 1894 A. Gordon Northward Ho 66:
Auld MacDowall's queer-gotten bairn had turned oot tae be a real nait'ral.Kcb.⁶ 1916:
My heid's queer sair.

†III. n. In pl.: something strange and surprising, news (Rxb. 1825 Jam.).s.Sc. 1897 E. Hamilton Outlaws ix.:
The Lord kens it's queers to Archie Simpson, that there's any harm in kissing a lassie.