Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1891-1995
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SKICE, v. Also skeys, sk(e)yce. To make off quickly and unobtrusively, to slip away, to clear out (ne.Sc. 1970); to scurry about (Abd. 1921 T.S.D.C.). Also in colloq. or dial. Eng. Adj. skicie, shy, apt to sneak off (Abd. 1970). [skəis]Abd. 1891 J. Ogg Glints 43:
"Weel, skice," said Nick, "never min' the weet, There's a gweed fire whaur you're gawin'."Abd. 1917 C. Murray Sough o' War 28:
The rippit spread, the rockets raise; 'twas time for hiz to skice.Abd. 1957 Bon-Accord (25 April) 13:
A loon cam' skeycin' ben the road.Abd. 1995 Flora Garry Collected Poems 24:
Noo, she's skycin roun the gable-eyn, her leen, i the early gloam,
Wi a muckle cwyte aboot her an a graavit ower her face.
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"Skice v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Jul 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/skice>
