It’s a balmy 6C here today, and when I left the Cafe this morning a gent said it was more like a March day than wintery December. It won’t last long.
I’ve mentioned before that I visit virtually with my mini-me cousin in Edinburgh every day, and this is the kind of day she calls ’dreich’. And a better word does not exist.
Dreich- a Scots adjective in the short version that means dull or gloomy, and in the long is described as: long-drawn out, protracted, hence tedious, wearisome, damp, wet, grey weather. Yup that is today.
The way it rolls of the tongue it embraces the very fibre of the day.
The first recorded use of the word was apparently in 1420 and originally meant ’enduring’ or ’slow’.
Dreich has been named (in some sort of a poll) the most popular Scots word by THE SCOTTISH BOOK TRUST.
I am impressed not only by knowing when a word was first recorded 600 years ago but that they even have something called The Scottish Book Trust.
So, there you go, a new word, a bit of history, and a day before you in which you can make a difference.
Enjoy y’all!
Chris LatN43 December 6th, 2021
A World Apart 
Definitely drench here in Switzerland, too! I had to look up the pronunciation – it could easily be a Swiss word!
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It could be Swiss! You have such a beautiful country. ChrisG
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Predictive text changed my dreich to drench – drat! – but actually, that’s also quite apt at the moment!
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I knew what you meant Cat!
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I love these old Scottish words. This is a good one. Thanks!
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I love the way words feel in the tongue lol
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A Scotsman I knew used to use the word to describe that kind of day. And we have that kind of day here even though it’s not cold. It certainly is wet and miserable so dreich describes it perfectly.
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Aye the cold part of it stays here in the north! Here is also high winds and driving snow now
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Reblogged this on I choose how I will spend the rest of my life.
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