skeighadj.adv.
/skɪx/, /skiː/, U.S. /ski/, /skix/, Scottish English /skix/ Scottish.
A. adj.
1. Of horses: inclined to shy; skittish, mettlesome, spirited.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > temperament > [adjective] > spirited or skittish
skeyc1440
skittish?1510
skeigh1513
fiery?1561
gay1590
sprightful1598
frampold1600
mettleablec1600
mettle1606
fire-snort1608
mettleda1627
spiritly1630
spiritful1644
mettlesome1655
skeighish1827
flighty1828
slashing1862
fly-about1889
buckish1911
snuffy1955
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid xii. vi. 134 Thymetes..Castyn from hys staffage, skeich and hedstrang hors.
c1610 J. Melville Mem. Own Life (1827) 34 My skeich horse ran throw them.., against my will.
1786 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 166 When thou an' I were young an' skiegh,..How thou wad prance, an' snore, an' scriegh, An' tak the road!
1822 W. Scott Fortunes of Nigel I. iv. 94 The loupin here and there of the skeigh brute of a horse.
1891 N. Dickson Kirk Beadle 62 The minister remarked as he saw the mare a little friskier than usual, ‘She's a little skiech the day’.
2. transferred. Of persons, esp. women. Hence: shy, coy, disdainful, proud.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > haughtiness or disdainfulness > [adjective]
overmoodeOE
highlyOE
overmoodOE
overmoodyOE
orgelc1175
dangerous?c1225
orgula1275
orgulousc1275
fiercec1290
hautain1297
highfulc1325
squeamousc1325
deignousc1330
digne1340
disdainousc1374
sirlya1375
lordlyc1390
high-hearteda1398
haught1430
haut1430
coppedc1449
excellentc1450
fastidious?a1475
loftyc1485
dain?1507
hichty1513
stiff-necked1526
supercilious1528
haughty1530
taunt?a1534
disdainfula1542
high in the instep1555
skeighc1560
queen-like?1571
surlyc1572
stately1579
coy1581
paughtya1586
steya1586
disdained1598
dortya1605
lordlike1605
overly1606
magnatical1608
stiff1608
surly-borne1609
high-sighted1610
lofty-minded1611
sublimed1611
patronizing1619
lording1629
sublimated1634
cavaliering1642
uncondescending1660
nose-in-the-air1673
sidy1673
fastuose1674
uncondescensive1681
condescending1707
stiff-rumped1728
fastidiose1730
cavalier1751
ogertful1754
pawky1809
supercilian1825
splendid1833
touch-me-not1852
pincé1858
high-stepping1867
eyeglassy1871
sniffy1871
cavalierly1876
snifty1889
Olympian1900
ritzy1920
mugwumpish1923
blasé1930
stiff-arsed1937
nose-high1939
the mind > emotion > humility > modesty > shyness or bashfulness > [adjective] > coy
coyc1386
nicea1400
coylya1542
skeighc1560
coyish1566
skittish1648
maidenish1749
maidish1822
c1560 A. Scott Poems (S.T.S.) xxvii. 34 Quhen scho growis skeich, I byd on beich, To lat hir in the brydill bend.
1568 H. Charteris Pref. Lyndesay's Wks. A ij b Now Courteouris cum hidder! Thocht ȝe be skeich, and skip abone the skyis.
1718 A. Ramsay Christ's-kirk on Green ii. 16 And wow gin she was skeigh, And mim that Day.
1789 D. Davidson Thoughts Seasons 90 The lasses turned skeigh, man, They hid themsels amang the corn.
1822 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. Jan. 33/2 There's nae need for being sae skeigh on a night like this.
1861 J. Barr Poems 235 (E.D.D.) There should be something done anent her, She'll turn ower skeigh.
B. adv.
Proudly, disdainfully.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > pride > haughtiness or disdainfulness > [adverb]
dignelyc1374
hautainlyc1400
deignouslyc1440
disdaininglyc1485
royally?c1500
disdainouslya1513
haughtly1523
superciliously1528
disdainishly?1529
disdainfullya1533
disdainedly1535
lordlikea1555
squeamishly1571
haughtily1572
state1579
coy1581
lordly1589
overly1610
lordlily1611
condescendingly1653
on (also upon) the high ropes (also rope)1672
coyly1673
cavalierly1718
slightily1740
skeigh1792
patronizingly1834
Olympically1839
superiorly1844
Olympianly1871
superior1891
1792 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) II. 667 Maggie coost her head fu' high, Look'd asklent and unco skiegh [1798 skeigh].
1813 E. Picken Misc. Poems I. 153 Wi' guid plain fare we'll leuk fu' skeigh, Haud up our nose fu' bauld, ay.
Derivatives
skeigh v. intransitive to shy, startle.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > habits and actions of horse > [verb (intransitive)] > shy
start?a1513
skeigh1513
startle1576
flounder1592
shy1796
scotch1832
nap1953
starter pack1955
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid vii. xiii. 152 Harlyt wyth hors that caucht affray And skeichit at ane meirswyne by the way.
ˈskeighish adj. somewhat skittish.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > temperament > [adjective] > spirited or skittish
skeyc1440
skittish?1510
skeigh1513
fiery?1561
gay1590
sprightful1598
frampold1600
mettleablec1600
mettle1606
fire-snort1608
mettleda1627
spiritly1630
spiritful1644
mettlesome1655
skeighish1827
flighty1828
slashing1862
fly-about1889
buckish1911
snuffy1955
1827 W. Taylor Poems 12 in Eng. Dial. Dict. The capering skeighish jade Made him owre the rumple fly, In dirt that day.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1911; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.adv.1513