Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1754, 1871, 1923-1952
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‡SETTEREL, adj. Also -al, -il, settral, -il; sittrel; satteral, sattril. [′sɛtrəl]
‡1. Stout and stocky in build, little and thickset (Abd., Kcd. 1970).Abd. 1754 R. Forbes Jnl. from London 13:
The second chiel was a thick setterel swown pallach.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxiii.:
A settril, braid-fac't chappie.Abd. 1952 Buchan Observer (3 June):
The hay-starved stirkies are now fast assuming a more setterel shape.
‡2. Short-tempered, tart in manner, sarcastic (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 147; Mry. 1911 Trans. Bnff. Field Club 109; Mry., Bnff. 1930); peevish, discontented (Per. 1825 Jam., sittrel).Abd. 1923 R. L. Cassie Heid or Hert v.:
His face wis takkin' on a gey settral an' thrawn leuk.
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"Setterel adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/setterel>
