skeigh, a. and adv. Sc.
(skix)
Forms: 6–7 skeich, 9 skiech, skeech; 8 skiegh, 8– skeigh.
[Related to OE. scéoh shy (= MHG. schiuhe, schiech-, G. scheuch), but the origin of the sk- is not clear: cf. skey a.]
A. adj.
1. Of horses: inclined to shy; skittish, mettlesome, spirited.
| 1508 Dunbar Tua Mariit Wemen 357 He is nought skeich, na ȝit sker, na scippis nought on syd. 1513 Douglas æneid xii. vi. 134 Thymetes..Castyn from hys staffage, skeich and hedstrang hors. c 1610 Sir J. Melvil Memoirs (Bann. Cl.) 34 My skeich horse ran throw them.., against my will. 1786 Burns To Auld Mare viii, When thou an' I were young an' skiegh,..How thou wad prance, an' snore, an' scriegh, An' tak the road! 1822 Scott Nigel iv, 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. transf. Of persons, esp. women. Hence, shy, coy, disdainful, proud.
| c 1560 A. Scott Poems (S.T.S.) xxvii. 34 Quhen scho growis skeich, I byd on beich, To lat hir in the brydill bend. 1568 Charteris Pref. to Lyndesay's Wks. A ij b, Now Courteouris cum hidder! Thocht ȝe be skeich, and skip abone the skyis. 1715 Ramsay Christ's Kirk Gr. ii. vi, And vow gin she was skeigh And mim that day. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 90 The lasses turned skeigh, man, They hid themsels amang the corn. 1822 Blackw. 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.
| 1792 Burns Duncan Gray 6 Maggie coost her head fu' high, Looked asklent and unco skiegh. 1813 Picken Poems I. 153 Wi' guid plain fare we'll leuk fu' skeigh, Haud up our nose fu' bauld, ay. |
Hence skeigh v. intr., to shy, startle; ˈskeighish a., somewhat skittish.
| 1513 Douglas æneid vii. xiii. 152 Harlyt wyth hors that caucht affray And skeichit at ane meirswyne by the way. 1827 W. Taylor Poems 12 (E.D.D.), The capering skeighish jade Made him owre the rumple fly, In dirt that day. |