dreich /dɹiːk/adjective 12noun 2forms 3 adjective12 •(Scotland, Northern-England) Bleak, cheerless, dismal, dreary, miserable.But he's lying i' such dree poverty,—and niver a friend to go near him,—niver a person to speak a kind word t' him. — 1863 •(Scotland, Northern-England) Of a person: having a dejected or serious appearance or mood; dour, gloomy, moody, morose, sullen.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. — 1819 •(Scotland, Northern-England) Of weather: dreary, gloomy (cold, overcast, rainy, etc.).To be sure, t' winter's been a dree season, and thou'rt, maybe, in the right on't to make a late start. — 1863 •(Scotland, Northern-England) Extending for a long distance or time, especially when tedious or wearisome; long-drawn-out, protracted; also, of speech or writing: unnecessarily verbose; long-winded.So Alec showed her the letter, 'twas long and dreich and went on and on; […] — 1932 •(Scotland, Northern-England) Not enjoyable or interesting; boring, dull.VVhen thou an' I vvere young an' skiegh, / An' stable-meals at Fairs vvere driegh, / Hovv thou vvad prance, an' snore, an' skriegh, / An' tak the road! — 1786 •(Scotland, Northern-England) Of a task: laborious, tedious, troublesome; hence, needing concentration to understand; intricate. •(Scotland, Northern-England) Chiefly of rain: without pause or stop; continuous, incessant.So, after two hours' running downhill, we came out in the level valley at Glashütte. It was raining now, a thick dree rain. — 1931 •(Scotland, Northern-England) Slow, sluggish; specifically, of a person: tending to delay or procrastinate (especially when paying for something).What think ye o' yon bonny hill yonder, lifting its brow to the moon? […] [M]aybe we will win there the night yet, God sain us, though our minny [a horse] here's rather driegh in the upgang. — 1818 •(Scotland, Northern-England) suitably serious or solemn •(Scotland, Northern-England) of a person: patient, stoic, tolerant, resolute •(Scotland, no longer used) Of a person: negotiating forcefully; driving a hard bargain. •(Scotland, no longer used) Of a place (especially a hill or mountain): difficult to get through or reach; inaccessible. noun2 •(Scotland) Bleakness, gloom; specifically, gloomy (cold, overcast, rainy, etc.) weather. •(Northern-England) A tedious or troublesome task; also, the most tedious or troublesome part of a task. formsdreiches · dreicher · dreichest
