Scottishisms

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Expressions, phrases, or vocabulary characteristic of the Scots language or spoken in Scotland ; linguistic features that distinguish Scottish English from other forms of English ; regional dialect elements unique to Scotland and its culture
2. Terms and idioms unique to the Scottish vernacular ; words and forms commonly used in Scotland that differ from standard English ; speech patterns and lexical choices that reflect Scottish heritage and identity
3. Particular speech traits or slang typical of Scotland ; distinctive vocabulary and usage found predominantly in Scottish dialects ; culturally specific language elements related to Scotland and its people

Etymology: "Scottishism" entered English in the 18th century, and the earliest uses are often linked to Scottish writers and critics who were self-consciously policing their own speech. Many of the expressions labelled as Scottishisms were once standard English or Scots forms that fell out of fashion in the south, so the category says as much about English usage in London as it does about Scotland. The suffix "-ism" comes from Greek "-ismos" through Latin "-ismus", and it is attached here to "Scottish" to name a distinctive feature of speech. The term is a plain formation rather than a dramatic coinage, and it follows the same pattern as "Americanism" and "Anglicism" for regional or national usages.

Synonyms: Scotticism, Scots word, Scots expression, Scottish dialectism