/driː/, U.S. /dri/; Scottish pre-1700 1900s– dreich, pre-1700 dreigh, pre-1700 dreith, pre-1700 dreych, pre-1700 drych, 1900s– driech. dreichn.
/driːx/, U.S. /drik/, /drix/, Scottish English /drix//driː/, U.S. /dri/; Scottish pre-1700 1900s– dreich, pre-1700 dreigh, pre-1700 dreith, pre-1700 dreych, pre-1700 drych, 1900s– driech. Now Scottish and English regional (northern and north midlands).† 1. Grief, sorrow; trouble, annoyance. Cf. later dree n. Obsolete.† 2. Distance in space; only in on dreich: at or to a distance; away, off. Cf. adreigh adv. Obsolete.Cf. to draw on dreich at Phrases a.† 3. Length or duration in time; the whole or greater part of a day or night; a period of time. Obsolete.Cf. to draw on dreich at Phrases b.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > state of annoyance or vexation > [noun] > cause of annoyance or vexation
thornc1230
dreicha1275
painc1375
cumbrance1377
diseasec1386
a hair in one's necka1450
molestationc1460
incommodity?a1475
melancholya1475
ensoigne1477
annoyance1502
traik1513
incommode1518
corsie1548
eyesore1548
fashery1558
cross1573
spite1577
corrosive1578
wasp1588
cumber1589
infliction1590
gall1591
distaste1602
plague1604
rub1642
disaccommodation1645
disgust1654
annoyment1659
bogle1663
rubber1699
noyancea1715
chagrins1716
ruffle1718
fasha1796
nuisance1814
vex1815
drag1857
bugbear1880
nark1918
pain in the neck (also arse, bum, etc.)1933
sod1940
chizz1953
a1275 (?c1200) Prov. Alfred (Trin. Cambr.) (1955) 112 Wose lat is wif his maister wurþen..he sal him rere dreiȝe & moni tene selliche hawen.
a1425 (a1400) Prick of Conscience (Galba & Harl.) (1863) l. 5373 (MED) Yhit sal þai þat day dre [c1400 McClean a grete drede] hafe Noght for þam-self, for þai er giltles.
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 5578 All þe dreȝe of þa deuels þai drenchid or þai past.
c1475 Advice to Lovers in J. O. Halliwell Select. Minor Poems J. Lydgate (1840) 45 The first yere wedlokk is called pleye, The second dreye, and the thrid yere deye.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > distance > distance or farness > [adjective]
sideOE
fara1000
ferrenc1160
lungeteync1330
on dreicha1400
yondera1413
widec1425
roomc1443
lontaignec1450
remote1533
distant1549
remotedc1580
disloigned1596
discoasted1598
dissite1600
far-off1600
aloof1608
longinque1614
distantial1648
Atlantic1790
far-distant1793
far-away1816
far-apart1865
way off1871
the world > space > distance > distance or farness > [adverb] > at or to a distance
ferrenc888
farc900
longOE
afarc1300
yond13..
on length1340
alonga1382
adreigha1393
on dreicha1400
afar offc1400
far-aboutc1450
alengtha1500
distantlya1500
remote1589
remotely1609
yferrea1643
out of his (her, its, etc.) way1650
adistance1807
away1818
way1833
way1833
way off1836
way out1840
a1400 (a1325) Cursor Mundi (Vesp.) l. 21859 Bitakens ferr on drei, Men wat it es command nei.
1488 (c1478) Hary Actis & Deidis Schir William Wallace (Adv.) (1968–9) v. l. 1079 Folow on dreich giff that we mystir ocht.
1533 J. Bellenden tr. Livy Hist. Rome (1903) II. App. i. 293 Throw ane signe þat quintius maid on dreith, þe romanis Ischit fra þair tentis.
1553 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Eneados ii. xi. 56 My spous on dreich, eftir our trace sal hy.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > duration > [noun] > long duration or lasting through time > a long time
seven daysOE
a while1297
dreichc1440
dreightc1450
yearsa1470
age1577
week1597
montha1616
patriarch's age1693
length1697
eternity1700
a month of Sundays1759
a week of Sundays1822
a week of Saturdays1831
dog's age1833
forever1833
while1836
aeon1880
donkey's years1916
light year1929
yonks1968
c1440 (?a1400) Morte Arthure l. 2915 (MED) Thus they dreuen to þe dede dukes and erles All þe dreghe of þe daye.
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 4788 viij daies be-dene þe driȝe was, & mare, Or he miȝt couire to þe copp fra þe caue vndire.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 13 When the dregh was don of þe derke night.
4. Scottish. Dullness, bleakness, gloom; spec. wet, cold, or overcast weather.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > cold weather > [noun]
winterOE
cold?c1400
dreich1928
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > wet weather > [noun]
wetec897
wetc1200
dreich1928
the world > matter > light > darkness or absence of light > darkness or gloom > [noun]
thicknessc1000
dusknessa1382
umbraclec1500
duskishness1541
sadness1601
duskiness1611
gloominess1611
opacity1611
gloom1645
shadowinessa1672
dusk1700
brown1729
gloaming1832
bat-light1871
dreich1928
1928 A. D. Mackie Poems in Two Tongues i. 43 And even the ugsome driech o' this Auld clarty Yirth is wi' your kiss Transmogrified.
1994 Herald (Glasgow) (Nexis) 5 Mar. 3 Sitting in that hall, in front of a roaring fire.., and the dancing flames the way I never saw them in the dreich of a tenement.., I caught a catch in my throat of a Scotland which could have been.
2019 @PixelSword 9 July in twitter.com (accessed 25 Oct. 2019) Soon I'll leave the dreich of Edinburgh and hopefully land in a more sunny location.
5. English regional (northern and north midlands). A difficult or tedious task; the hardest or most tedious part of a task.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > [noun] > an undertaking > thing(s) to be done > a (difficult) task
workOE
piece of work1533
job of work1557
tesh1596
task1597
stunt1880
aufgabe1902
dreich1984
1984 Jrnl. Lancs. Dial. Soc. No. 33. 13/2 Dree, tedious and difficult task.
1995 J. M. Sims-Kimbrey Wodds & Doggerybaw: Lincs. Dial. Dict. 84/1 Us'll git on wi' the dree fosst an' git it ower, shall us?
Phrases
† to draw on dreich.Chiefly in alliterative verse.
a. To draw (a person, oneself) aside; to draw away or back.
ΚΠ
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 1031 (MED) Þere he draȝez hym on dryȝe, & derely hym þonkkez.
a1500 (?a1400) Morte Arthur (1903) l. 2826 Launcelot than hym drew on dryhe..; And syr gawayne cryed lowde on hye: ‘Traytour And coward, come A-gayne.’
1568 A. Scott Poems (1896) 72 Quhen scho growis heich, I draw on dreich, To vesy and behald the end.
b. To hold back or delay (an action).
ΚΠ
a1450 York Plays (1885) 349 (MED) This dede on-dergh we may noght drawe.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 176 Why on dregh draghes þou þes dedis so ferre.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2020; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
dreichadj.
/driːx/, U.S. /drik/, /drix/, Scottish English /drix/, Irish English /ðreː/, /driːx//driː/, U.S. /dri/ (archaic); English regional (northern and midlands) 1600s– dree, 1800s dhree (Yorkshire), 1800s drea, 1800s dreech, 1800s dreigh, 1800s drigh (Yorkshire); Scottish pre-1700 dreiche, pre-1700 1700s–1900s dreigh, pre-1700 1700s– dreich, pre-1700 1800s drigh, 1700s–1800s dreegh, 1700s–1800s driegh, 1700s–1900s dree, 1700s– dreech, 1700s– driech, 1800s dreek, 1800s dreif, 1800s driche, 1900s– drich; Irish English (northern) 1800s dreagh, 1800s dreegh, 1800s– dreigh, 1900s driech, 1900s– dreich, 1900s– dreech, 1900s– dhreich, 1900s– dhreigh, 1900s– dree. Scottish, Irish English (northern), and English regional (chiefly northern and north midlands) in later use.† I. With neutral or largely positive connotation.
1. Of a person: appropriately serious or solemn. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
OE Wulfstan Canons of Edgar (Junius) (1972) xxviii. 8 Riht is þæt man æt cyricwæccan swyðe dreoh [altered to gedreoh; OE Corpus Cambr. gedreoh] sy, and georne gebidde, and ænig gedrync ne ænig unnytt ðær ne dreoge.
2. Of a person: patient, long-suffering, stoical; steadfast, resolute. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > decision > constancy or steadfastness > [adjective] > capable of moral effort or endurance
strongeOE
dreicha1200
stable13..
wilfulc1330
toughc1400
durable1541
strong-minded1544
unbending1796
cast iron1829
backboned1940
a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 49 Lomb is drih þing and milde.
a1300 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 117 Maide dreiȝ & wel itaucht.
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 724 (MED) Nade he ben duȝty and dryȝe, & dryȝtyn had serued, Douteles he hade ben ded & dreped ful ofte.
3. Great in size, force or degree; large, mighty, impressive. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > greatness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective]
mickleeOE
wideOE
largec1300
greata1325
muchc1330
mightyc1390
millionc1390
dreicha1400
rudea1450
massive1581
massy1588
heavy1728
magnitudinous1777
powerful1800
almighty1824
tall1842
hefty1930
honking1943
mondo1968
the world > action or operation > manner of action > violent action or operation > [adjective] > characterized by unusual violence or force
ketea1290
worthyc1350
violenta1387
stronga1398
dreicha1400
forciblec1422
strainable1497
vehement1531
forceful1592
wieldy1592
virulent1607
forcive1634
ass-kicking1977
a1400 Psalter (Vesp.) lxxix. 11 in C. Horstmann Yorkshire Writers (1896) II. 214 His schadw ouerhiled hilles hegh, And his twigges goddes cedres dregh.
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness (1920) l. 342 In dryȝ dred and daunger.
c1450 (?a1400) Wars Alexander (Ashm.) l. 5568 Þe dreȝest deele of þaim died of his dukis handis.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 83 Dreghist in armys And the strongest in stoure.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 179v Þe kay..the durres to vndo of the dregh horse.
II. With largely negative connotation.† 7. Shrewd or uncompromising in business matters; that drives a hard bargain. Obsolete.Quot. 1673 probably shows this sense of the adjective, but it could be alternatively be analysed as showing a noun use with the sense ‘a hard bargainer’.
4.
a. Long, lengthy, protracted, esp. excessively, tediously, or dispiritingly so; (of a road or way) long and wearisome; (of speech or other communication) prolix, long-winded.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > dejection > [adjective] > gloomy or depressing
darkOE
unmerryOE
deathlyc1225
dolefulc1275
elengec1275
dreicha1300
coolc1350
cloudyc1374
sada1375
colda1400
deadlya1400
joylessc1400
unjoyful?c1400
disconsolatea1413
mournfula1425
funeralc1425
uncheerfulc1449
dolent1489
dolesome1533
heavy-hearted1555
glum1558
ungladsome1558
black1562
pleasureless1567
dern1570
plaintive?1570
glummish1573
cheerless1575
comfortless1576
wintry1579
glummy1580
funebral1581
discouraging1584
dernful?1591
murk1596
recomfortless1596
sullen1597
amating1600
lugubrious1601
dusky1602
sable1603
funebrial1604
damping1607
mortifying1611
tearful?1611
uncouth1611
dulsome1613
luctual1613
dismal1617
winterous1617
unked1620
mopish1621
godforsaken?1623
uncheerly1627
funebrious1630
lugubrous1632
drearisome1633
unheartsome1637
feral1641
drear1645
darksome1649
sadding1649
saddening1650
disheartening1654
funebrous1654
luctiferous1656
mestifical1656
tristifical1656
sooty1657
dreary1667
tenebrose1677
clouded1682
tragicala1700
funereal1707
gloomy1710
sepulchrala1711
dumpishc1717
bleaka1719
depressive1727
lugubre1727
muzzy1728
dispiriting1733
uncheery1760
unconsolatory1760
unjolly1764
Decemberly1765
sombre1768
uncouthie1768
depressing1772
unmirthful1782
sombrous1789
disanimating1791
Decemberish1793
grey1794
uncheering1796
ungenial1796
uncomforting1798
disencouraginga1806
stern1812
chilling1815
uncheered1817
dejecting1818
mopey1821
desponding1828
wisht1829
leadening1835
unsportful1837
demoralizing1840
Novemberish1840
frigid1844
morne1844
tragic1848
wet-blanketty1848
morgue1850
ungladdeneda1851
adusk1856
smileless1858
soul-sick1858
Novemberya1864
saturnine1863
down1873
lacklustre1883
Heaven-abandoneda1907
downbeat1952
doomy1967
the mind > emotion > suffering > feeling of weariness or tedium > [adjective] > wearisome or tedious
dreicha1300
alangec1330
joylessa1400
tedious1412
wearifulc1454
weary1465
laboriousa1475
tiresome?a1513
irksome1513
wearisome1530
woodena1566
irkful1570
flat1573
leaden1593
barren1600
soaked1600
unlively1608
dulla1616
irking1629
drearisome1633
drear1645
plumbous1651
fatigable1656
dreary1667
uncurious1685
unenlivened1692
blank1726
disinteresting1737
stupid1748
stagnant1749
trist?1756
vegetable1757
borish1766
uninteresting1769
unenlivening1774
oorie1787
wearying1796
subjectless1803
yawny1805
wearing1811
stuffy1813
sloomy1820
tediousome1823
arid1827
lacklustrous1834
boring1839
featureless1839
slow1840
sodden1853
ennuying1858
dusty1860
cabbagy1861
old1864
mouldy1876
yawnful1878
drab1880
dehydrated1884
interestless1886
jay1889
boresome1895
stodgy1895
stuffy1895
yawnsome1900
sludgy1901
draggy1922
blah1937
nowhere1940
drack1945
stupefactive1970
schleppy1978
wack1986
a1300 in C. Brown Eng. Lyrics 13th Cent. (1932) 81 Wen þu list, mon, up-on bere ant slepest a swyþe druye [c1300 Arun. dreri] slep ne shaltu haben wit þe no fere butte þine werkus.
c1450 (?a1349) in F. J. Furnivall Hymns to Virgin & Christ (1867) 22 Þerof us þenkiþ þe wey to drie [a1450 Cambr. Dd.5.64 dregh].
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 27v The draghtes the dyse and oþer dregh gamnes.
1685 G. Meriton Praise of York-shire Ale 70 Yon Town's a dree way off Pegg, Ise sare tire'd.
?1746 ‘T. Bobbin’ View Lancs. Dial. 11 Whooas Lad art to?..I'm Jone's o'Lall's o'Simmy's o'Marriom's o'Dick's o'Nethon's, o'Lall's o'Simmy's ith' Hoom's... Odd, thinks I't meh sell, theaw's a dree er Neme in mee.
a1774 R. Fergusson Poems (1785) 159 There's lang and dreech contesting.
1828 W. Carr Dial. Craven (ed. 2) II. Dialogues 341 They wor tought to read, an to sayt catechism i'th' kirk, for au we live a dree way off.
a1859 W. Watt Poems & Songs (1860) 240 The wives curl o'er, wi' converse dreigh, Their ain fireside affairs, Jocose, this morn.
1932 Aberdeen Press & Jrnl. 21 Jan. 4/1 Dundee United travel again... They are faced with the dreich journey to Dumfries.
1995 J. M. Sims-Kimbrey Wodds & Doggerybaw: Lincs. Dial. Dict. 84/1 Dree owd sarmin tadaãy what the Parson cum up wi', weãnnt it? Bummin' aweã lãike yon.
b. Unremitting, incessant. In later use esp. (of rainfall) sustained, persistent; cf. sense 4e.Sometimes with the implication that the rain is fine, but falling densely and continuously.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > continuing > [adjective] > continuous or without stop or pause (of action) > unremitting
dreichc1400
unrespited1593
unslacked1593
unremitteda1630
unrelented1651
unremitting1668
unflagging1715
unrelaxing1715
unbating1744
unslackening1768
unabatinga1774
unremittent1776
unreceding1810
irremissive1817
remitless1818
unrelaxed1825
unslackened1870
bateless1886
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 1460 Quen þe dyntez hym dered of her dryȝe strokez, Þen..on burnez he [sc. a boar] rasez.
1854 W. Gaskell Lect. Lancs. Dial. 22 In Lancashire people talk of ‘dree rain’... And they say it rains ‘dreely’ meaning that it is continuous and enduring.
1857 E. Waugh Sketches Lancs. Life (ed. 2) 207 The rains are heavy and dree upon Ashworth moors.
1930 D. H. Lawrence Love among Haystacks 81 It was raining now, a thick dree rain.
2019 @p_a__mcg 21 Mar. in twitter.com (accessed 26 July 2019) [Making small talk about the weather is way more fun if you're in a country where someone might say] ‘It's a dreich rain that gets intae ye, nae a rain ye can keep off by sticking up ye brellie.’ ☔.
c. Slow, sluggish; (of a person) tardy or reluctant to begin or do something; dilatory; spec. slow to pay for something or settle debts (cf. sense 7).
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > slowness of action or operation > [adjective] > specifically of persons
slowc1300
sluggishc1450
tardious?1572
dreich1606
slowback1610
reluctant1797
tardigrade1813
1606 in D. Calderwood Hist. Kirk Scotl. (1849) VIII. 58 Fearing to be esteemed drigh, nice, or in any way wanting due regard to your Lordship's pleasure.
1768 A. Ross Fortunate Shepherdess i. 33 Na aunty says he, she was not sae skeigh, Nor wi' her answer very blate or dreigh.
1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian iv, in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. III. 88 Our minny here's rather driegh in the upgang.
1835 J. D. Carrick Laird of Logan ii. 213 I told him I was a stranger come to do business..and wanted to have his opinion of some of the people of the place; so I mentioned my men, and he told me the first was dreek, the second was unco dreek, and the third was dreeker and dreeker.
1901 Northern Whig (Belfast) The Commissioners hae got it the noo, an' they're guy driech. They go by Irish lang measure in lan', time, an' aw!
1912 D. McKie Fables frae French 11 Though rejoicin', dreich his fitsteps grew.
1992 in Sc. National Dict. New Suppl. (Electronic text) at Dreich The Scots are aw mooth but when it comes tae takin action they're gey dreich.
d. Depressingly dull, dreary, or monotonous; not providing interest, excitement, or enjoyment.
ΚΠ
1786 R. Burns Poems 120 When thou an' I were young an' skiegh, An' Stable-meals at Fairs were driegh.
1793 S. Thomson Poems Sc. Dial. 87 The road is lang an' unco driegh.
1828 Belfast News Let. 7 Nov. This has been a dreich day to me—a dreary day, an' I waur gloamin.
1886 R. L. Stevenson Kidnapped xxiii. 225 My life is a bit driegh..I see little company.
1914 Brit. Jrnl. Photogr. 17 July 551/1 It was a dreich business—after the entertainments of Wednesday—to be at the station in time for the 8.35 a.m. train on Thursday morning.
1950 Dundee Courier 6 Apr. 6/4 From then on until the final whistle it was dreich stuff, with neither 'keeper having much to do.
2012 Sc. Express (Nexis) 24 June 45 There is a renewed appetite for the cinema—still the ultimate form of escapism—in these dreich times of recession.
e. Of weather: rainy, overcast, or cold; dreary, bleak. Also: characterized by such weather.Probably originally an extension of sense 4b, but in later use influenced also by sense 4d.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > weather and the atmosphere > weather > bad weather > [adjective] > bleak (of weather)
doura1500
blaea1522
dreich1847
1847 Inverness Courier 20 July 4/6 The deer..are lean and poverty-stricken as the sheep upon the hills. Throughout the long, late, and dreich spring of 1847, many, it is to be feared, died of starvation.
1863 E. C. Gaskell Sylvia's Lovers II. xi. 205 It's dree weather for them, but they'll not mind that... She noticed..that the rain was spoken of in reference to them, not to her.
1892 J. Lumsden Sheep-head & Trotters 315 Wat, wat an' cauld, an' desolate—Oh! driech was that December day.
1956 Scots Mag. Oct. 84/2 A Festival as bright as the weather was dreich.
2003 A. Donovan Buddha Da 122 It was a miserable day, grey and dreich, but the mall was sparklin wi fairy lights and the place was mobbed.
5. † a. Expressing or characteristic of sorrow or distress; sorrowful, sad. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
c1400 (?c1390) Sir Gawain & Green Knight (1940) l. 1750 (MED) In dreȝ droupyng of dreme draueled þat noble, As mon þat watz in mornyng of mony þro þoȝtes.
c1540 (?a1400) Gest Historiale Destr. Troy (2002) f. 52v Elan..driet the dropis of hir dregh teris.
b. Of a person: downcast, sombre, humourless in mood, disposition or appearance; miserable, gloomy; sober, sullen, dour.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > suffering > dejection > melancholy > seriousness or solemnity > [adjective]
seinec1330
sober1362
unfeastlyc1386
murec1390
unlaughter-milda1400
sadc1400
solemnyc1420
solemned1423
serious1440
solemnc1449
solenc1460
solemnel?1473
moy1487
demure1523
grave1549
staid1557
sage1564
sullen1583
weighty1602
solid1632
censoriousa1637
(as) grave (also solemn, etc.) as a judge1650
untriumphant1659
setc1660
agelastic1666
austere1667
humourless1671
unlaughing1737
smileless1740
untriflinga1743
untittering1749
steady1759
dun1797
antithalian1818
dreich1819
laughterless1825
unsmiling1826
laughless1827
unfestive1844
sober-sided1847
gleeless1850
unfarcical1850
mome1855
deedy1895
button-down1959
buttoned-down1960
straight-faced1975
1819 W. Scott Bride of Lammermoor viii, in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. III. 114 There they are that were capering on their prancing nags four days since, and they are now ganging as driegh and sober as oursells the day.
1894 ‘I. Maclaren’ Beside Bonnie Brier Bush 207 A' hear that they have nae examination in humour at the college; it's an awfu' want, for it wud keep oot mony a dreich body.
1917 J. Buchan Poems 38 The dreichest saul could see he had sunlicht in his ee.
1998 S. Blackhall Bonsai Grower 17 Heid o the hoose wis Auld Dod Mowatt, the patriarch o the clan—a thin, dour, lang, dreich chiel, weel inno the echties.
2011 Aberdeen Press & Jrnl. (Nexis) 29 Jan. (Columnist section) 40 Pick out the dreichest, wershest, most crotchety co-worker you can find, and set out to be as unlike them as possible.
6. † a. Difficult or dangerous to reach or negotiate; inaccessible; steep. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > land > landscape > high land > slope > [adjective] > steep
stickleOE
steepc1175
shore14..
steyc1480
proclive1524
steeping1530
brant1545
steepy1565
abrupt1591
dreich1597
downsteepy1603
acclive1616
arduous1711
sharp1725
acclivous1730
rapid1785
declivitous1799
acclivitous1803
scarped1823
proclivitous1860
stoss1878
resequent1906
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > [adjective] > affording access > accessible > inaccessible
inaccessible?a1475
unwinnablec1540
improachable?a1560
inaccesse?1567
unapproachable1574
unreachablea1586
unaccessible1596
dreich1597
accessless?1614
approachless1647
wind-bound1647
uncome-at-able1694
inapproachable1828
unget-at-able1862
1597 A. Montgomerie Cherrie & Slae 343 The craig was vgly stay and dreiche.
1794 J. Ritson Scotish Song I. 35 Loup down, loup down, my master dear, What though the window's dreigh and hie, I'll catch you in my arms twa.
1874 R. Wanlock Moorland Rhymes 65 The bonnie hills o' Wanlock, I've spielt them ane an' a', Baith laich and heich and stey and dreich.
1906 Rymour Club Misc. I. 186 Yer hieland hills are heigh and dreigh, And they are ill to climb.
b. Of a task, work, etc.: taxing, laborious, difficult; spec. requiring close attention; intricate, fine-detailed.In more general use sometimes difficult to distinguish from sense 4d.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > types of difficulty > [adjective] > difficult or laborious
strongc1175
travailousa1382
laborousc1405
laboriousc1410
travailsome1549
laboursome1551
rigorousa1564
Herculean1594
surly1609
Augean1724
dreich1804
1804 R. Couper Poetry Sc. Lang. I. 87 Nae mair o' dreich and grievous tasks, Or langsome days we hear.
1843 Children's Employm. Comm.: 2nd Rep.: Trades & Manuf. 10 in Parl. Papers XIII. 307 The work [sc. lacemaking] tries the eyes; the black is the worst; ‘it is dree work.’
1883 W. D. Latto Bodkin Papers xii. 62 A sair week's wark we had—for flittin' is a dreich job.
1892 M. C. F. Morris Yorks. Folk-talk 299 It's a dree job cutting these beeans; they're all ankled tigither seea.
1915 1st Rep. Departmental Comm. Lighting in Factories: Pt. II. Minutes Evid. 142/2 in Parl. Papers 1914–16 (Cd. 8001) XXI. 639 The women have to do what they call dree work—running on these black silk hose, extremely fine, and they would like a light fixing so that it is..shining on the work.
1933 Border Mag. June 82 It's a dreich job howkin' tatties wi' the caul' win' in yer duds.
ΚΠ
1673 J. Ray Observ. Journey Low-countries 15 Dree.., A hard bargainer, spoken of a person.
a1728 W. Kennett Etymol. Coll. Eng. Words & Provinc. Expressions (2018) 174/2 Dree.., a Dree-Man, a Dree-Bargainer, i.e. a Hard-Man, or hard-Chapman. One who gives a great many words to a bargain.
1884 R. Holland Gloss. Words County of Chester (1886) Dree.., A man who is difficult to deal with is a dree bargainer. ‘He's nor a foo, although he does na look so very breet; but if yo'n eawt do wi' him, yo'n foind him very dree.’
Phrases
dreich to draw: slow or reluctant to act, decide, give, etc. Also (and earliest) in dreich of (also in, a) drawing in the same sense. Now rare. Sc. National Dict. (at cited word) records this phrase as known to correspondents in Aberdeenshire in 1940.
ΚΠ
1755 R. Forbes Jrnl. London to Portsmouth in tr. Ovid Ajax his Speech (new ed.) 31 The lads wis nae vera driech a-drawin, bat lap in amo' the dubs in a hand-clap.
1790 A. Shirrefs Poems 355 I'm but e'en right dreigh to draw, Altho' I'm fain.
1821 Scots Mag. Apr. 352/1 Whar's the leefu'-hairtit Caledonian wha wad be driech in drawing to gar the wallot skaud o' our mither-tounge shyne like the rouky gleemoch in a craunrochie morning.
1823 J. Galt Entail III. xxi. 199 The compliment is like the chariot-wheels o'Pharaoh, sae dreigh o' drawing, that I canna afford to be blate wi' you ony langer.
1895 Dundee Courier 12 July 2/5 They'd tell J. M...gif he noo wid say he'd stan' Success they'd stake their life upo'. But, haith, J. M. wis driech to draw; En' weel did he remember The dirty trick they played 'pon him At Farfar lest November.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2019; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
<
n.a1275
adj.OE