Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1790, 1873-1915
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CALSHIE, CALSH, Calshich, Kalchie, adj. Crabbed, ill-humoured, surly. Known to Bnff.2, Abd.2 1938. The form calsh seems to be confined to Bnff. and Bch. Cf. Kelshie, adj. [′kɑlʃi, ′kɑlʃɪç, kɑlʃ]Mry. 1873 J. Brown Round Table Club 106:
Fat in the world is there aboot yer dress, madam, that's brakin' an' crackin' an' makin' the captain sae kalchie?Bnff. 1898 E.D.D.:
He's a gey calshich lad.Bch. 1915 (per Abd.15):
Ay, the dog's fell calsh an' snarly.Ags. 1790 D. Morison Poems 82:
Gin she but bring a wee bit tocher, And calshie fortune deign to snocher, Just bid her work, but na, fient hough her, Her head it dizzies.
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"Calshie adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Jul 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/calshie>
