Editorial standard
Context before confidence
Scots is a language with regional varieties, while Scottish English and Gaelic are distinct contexts. The dictionary does not flatten them into one novelty accent.
Identify the language context
Entries distinguish Scots, Scottish English, and local varieties where the evidence supports that distinction.
State regional limits
Doric, Glasgow, west-central, north-east, family, generational, and formal uses are labeled instead of treated as nationwide rules.
Explain social force
Tone, setting, audience, and caution show whether a term is warm, comic, rude, affectionate, or formal.
Use sources without copying them
Definitions are original summaries linked to DSL and other relevant references, not reproduced dictionary text.
Invite correction
Source checking is not the same as universal local review. Speakers and researchers can propose stronger examples or regional boundaries.
Label synthetic speech
Browser pronunciation is a convenience and never presented as evidence of authentic local speech.
Core source library
Authoritative general reference with English definitions for thousands of Scots words and regional labels.
Dictionaries of the Scots LanguageDictionaries of the Scots Language OnlineHistorical and modern Scots dictionary evidence from the Scottish National Dictionary and Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue.
VisitScotland18 Braw Scottish Words and PhrasesPublic guide to familiar Scots words, example sentences, and pronunciation recordings.
Dictionaries of the Scots LanguageAbout ScotsOverview of Scots, Scottish English, Gaelic, and traditional Scots dialect regions.
Scots Language CentreScots Language CentreEducational and cultural material about Scots language, writing, spelling, and regional use.
Dictionaries of the Scots LanguageBraw — Scottish National DictionaryHistorical and regional evidence for braw as fine, splendid, attractive, or impressive.
Dictionaries of the Scots LanguageScunner — Scottish National DictionaryEvidence for scunner as disgust, aversion, or a person or thing that causes it.
Dictionaries of the Scots LanguageBlether — Scottish National DictionaryEvidence for blether as extended, foolish, or friendly talk depending on context.
Dictionaries of the Scots LanguageNumpty — Scottish National DictionaryEvidence for numpty as an insulting but often mild or comic term for a foolish person.