Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1721, 1772-1795, 1926
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DRUNKEN, pa.p. and ppl.adj. Sc. usages. Cf. Drucken.
1. pa.p. = Eng. drunk (Bnff.2, Abd.2 1940). Since 17th cent. in use only as poet. archaism in Eng.Abd. 1926 Abd. Univ. Review (March) 113:
Sir Michael's health wiz drunken, an' the proceedin's ennit up wi' a gran' toast.
2. ppl.adj. Of a fishing-hook: one that has been put into the basket without being baited (Crm. 1911 D. Finlayson W.-L.).
3. Phrs.: (1) drunken bell, (see quot.) hist.; †(2) drunken groat, a fine paid as a penalty for drunkenness; †(3) drunken penny, drink-money.(1) Bnff. 1795 Stat. Acc.1 III. 64:
The ale-houses in this village . . . were very numerous, and the Sunday's drinking very great . . .; in so much that the minister was obliged to compound the matter, to allow a certain time after public worship, and then to cause ring what was called the Drunken Bell; after which he visited the ale-houses, and dismissed any who remained in them.(2) Edb. 1772 R. Fergusson Poems (1925) 22:
They trail'd him ben, an' by my saul, He paid his drunken groat For that neist day.(3) Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 29:
A drunken Wife will get the drunken Penny, but a Drudge will get a Dark.
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"Drunken p.p., ppl. adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/drunken>
