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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

‡OORLICH, adj., n. Also ourlach, o'rlich, (h)urloch; urlach (Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 85), oorlick; woorlich (Abd. 1921 T.S.D.C.). [′u:rlɪç]

I. adj. Of persons: miserable-looking from cold, hunger or illness, pinched, haggard, shivery, out-of-sorts (Abd. 1929, oorlick); of the weather: damp, chilly and unpleasant, raw, bleak, depressing (Bch. 1808 Jam.; ne.Sc. 1964); of things: sad and depressing, eerie.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 45:
Ayont the pool, I spy'd the lad that fell, Drouket, an' looking unko ourlach-like.Mry. 1806 R. Jamieson Ballads I. 295:
And mony a cald hurloch eenin, Through weet and through snaw had he gane.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xviii.:
Oorlich shoo'ers o' drift an' hail.Abd. 1915 H. Beaton Benachie 163:
There's been a drap rain, an' she may be o'rlich kin'.Bnff. 1922 Banffshire Jnl. (18 April) 2:
As oorlich as the greetin' hellwarye The crafters, mossin' to the tap, can hear, Hine, hine awa', the grouse scraich ower the meer.Bnff., Abd. 1953:
A gey oorlich pairt o the country, yon. A richt oorlich kin o a day.

II. n. A starved-looking, stunted person (Abd. 1911 Abd. Wkly. Jnl. (20 Jan.)).Abd. 1922 Swatches o' Hamespun 87:
A smoolach o' a carlie staviet in the idder day, An unca-lookin' oorlick.