'Dreich' is named most popular Scots word by Scottish Book Trust - BBC News
"Glaikit", "scunnered" and "shoogle" lose out to a word commonly used to describe the Scottish weather.
A word that is commonly used to describe the Scottish weather has been named the "most iconic" Scots word.

"Dreich" - meaning dull or gloomy - topped a poll to mark Book Week Scotland, led by the Scottish Book Trust.

It beat off contenders including "glaikit", "scunnered" and "shoogle".

The charity said the first recorded use of the word "dreich" was in 1420, when it originally meant "enduring" or "slow, tedious".

A total of 1,895 votes were cast in the annual poll.

If you ask someone to be quiet, you might say "wheesht".

It was the second time "dreich" had finished first in a poll after it also topped a YouGov poll in 2013 of favourite Scots words.

Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: "We were overwhelmed by the many submissions for our iconic Scots words vote - it's certainly a subject close to people's hearts.

"Dreich is such an evocative word with the ability to sum up the Scottish weather, or mood, perfectly.

"It's also a word that is very well used here in Scotland and beyond."

Rhona Alcorn, CEO of the Scots Language Dictionary, said: "Once again, dreich has been chosen as the most iconic Scots word, with glaikit taking the silver medal.

"Dreich has been part of the core vocabulary of Scots for hundreds of years so it is especially fitting that one of its primary meanings is 'enduring, persistent'."