Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1827, 1878-1927
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TOUSTIE, adj. Testy, irascible. [′tusti]Sc. 1827 Scott Chron. Canongate iii.:
He was a wee toustie when you rubbed him again the hair.Per. 1878 R. Ford Hame-Spun Lays 105:
A fig for Maggie's toustie mither, Her rowtin', flytin', yowtin' mither.Ags. 1893 F. Mackenzie Cruisie Sk. xvi.:
Everything he did was a fault. They were toustie every way he tried them.Ayr. 1927 J. Carruthers Man Beset i. i.:
The most crabbed person in three parishes and generally referred to as 'Toustie Tizzie.'
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"Toustie adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 8 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/toustie>
