Scots, like the rest of the UK, talk a lot about the weather. This hardly surprising – as the hoary old joke so accurately says “If you don’t like the weather in Scotland, wait half an hour and it will change”. On a “dreich” (wet, dismal) day there may not be a blink of sun and on others it may be “mochie” (warm and damp) and on still others a “simmer cowt” (a heat haze). Of course rain is often a feature ranging from a thunder “plump” (down-pour of rain) making everyone “drookit” (drenched) and producing lots of “dubs” (puddles) and will go into a “burn” (small stream or brook). There may be a more gentle “smirr” (light rain) or there may be an East Coast “haar” (mist from the sea). In winter time, when there are “wreaths” (drifts of snow) and the “snell” (bitingly cold) wind makes everone “fair jeelit” (cold as ice) at least the children can enjoy “skiting” (sliding) on the ice in a “hunker-slide” (sliding in a crouched position).
This obsession with weather could be attributed to us here on the 47th parallel, as well, especially once summer leaves us.
from Lanark, A Life in Four Books, by Alasdair Gray