teuchter

Scots

Etymology

Uncertain. Compare Scottish Gaelic nouns naming types of people, such as saighdear (“soldier”) or crèadhadair (“potter”); perhaps also Scottish Gaelic tuath (“country people”). Some commentators compare regional English or Scots teuch (“tough”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈtjuxtər/

Noun

teuchter (plural teuchters)

1. (derogatory) a Highlander, especially if Gaelic-speaking; a rural Scot in general
   • 1970, George MacDonald Fraser, The General Danced at Dawn, page 70:

     Ye’ve had it, ye big Heilan’ stirk! Ye neep! Ye teuchter, ye!

     You've had it, you big Highlander bullock! You turnip! You teuchter, you!

2. (derogatory, Glasgow) a Scot with a thick accent from outside west-central Scotland
3. (derogatory, Aberdeen) a Scot from Aberdeenshire, i.e. not Aberdeen

Usage notes

Term widely used by those in Central Scotland.

See also

• sassenach
• culchie

References

• “teuchter” in the Dictionary of the Scots Language, Edinburgh: Scottish Language Dictionaries.