CELEBRITY etymologist and lexicographer Susie Dent has been praised for sharing an “absolutely perfect” Scottish word.
Dent, best known as the adjudicator in Dictionary Corner on the Channel 4 gameshow Countdown, frequently shares some of her favourite words on X/Twitter.
Taking note of the cold winter weather Dent decided to spotlight the Scots word “hurkle-durkle”.
She said: “For anyone who hasn’t heard it, to ‘hurkle-durkle’, from 19th-century Scots, is to linger under the covers of a warm bed long after it’s time to get up.”
For anyone who hasn’t heard it, to ‘hurkle-durkle’, from 19th-century Scots, is to linger under the covers of a warm bed long after it’s time to get up.
— Susie Dent (@susie_dent) January 12, 2024
After sharing the word, many chimed in to say that they would be taking part in some hurkle-durkling themselves as Scotland prepares for freezing temperatures over the weekend.
“Severely underutilised word,” said one.
While another added: “Me for the whole of January”.
It comes after Scotland welcomed Susi Briggs as the new Scots Scriever.
Throughout her residency she will promote Galloway Scots across the country and produce original work in the language.
