|
Glaswegian |
English |
Example
and
Translation |
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Sa' |
Some |
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Sae |
So |
Och aye, it's nae sae bad.
I had to have my right leg amputated after the
crash but actually I rather enjoy walking on
crutches. |
|
Sairest |
Sorest |
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Saltire |
The Scottish Flag The
Saltire, Saint Andrew's Cross, or crux decussata, is
a heraldic symbol in the form of a diagonal cross.
Saint Andrew (patron Saint of Scotland) is said to
have been martyred on such a cross. |
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|
Sannie |
Sandwich |
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|
Sannies |
Sand shoe, Trainers |
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|
Sarry Heid |
Nickname for the Saracen
Head - Glasgow's oldest pub which is located in the
East End of the city. The pub is also home to the
skull of the last witch to be executed in Scotland
which resides in a glass case in the bar area. It is
also believed that the pub is haunted by, among
others, the ghost of a former owner, Angus. |
Website:
Saracen's Head |
|
Sassenach |
Our beloved neighbours -
the English.
It derives from the Scottish Gaelic Sasunnach
meaning, originally, "Saxon", from the Latin "Saxones";
it was also formerly applied by Highlanders to
(non-Gaelic-speaking) Lowlanders. |

Typical
Sassenachs |
|
Saunter |
Walk in an unhurried manner |
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Sauchiehall Street |
Sauchiehall Street is
Glasgow's most famous street. The name comes from "saugh"
the Scots word for a willow tree and "haugh" the
word for a meadow (this was later corrupted into
"hall"). |
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|
Sauchiehall Princess |
A spoilt young girl. The
assumption behind the term Sauchiehall Princess is
that the young girl in question has parents who
spoil her rotten - so are likely to take her on a
shopping spree to Glasgow and buy her anything she
wants. |
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|
Scadge |
Tramp / Tobacco and hash
crumbs for building a joint |
|
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Scaff |
Scruffy, scavenger |
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Scaffie |
A man who sweeps the
streets. |
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Scants |
Underpants |
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Scheme |
Housing Estate |
|
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Schemebo |
Someone from the housing
schemes |
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Schemey / Schemie |
Person from housing estate
(scheme) of an undesirable nature |
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Scoff |
Eat |
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|
Scotch Verdict |
Not Proven Verdict Unlike
other countries, we allow killers, rapist, muggers,
robbers and plumbers to freely roam our streets just
because the police are too incompetent to fabricate
a bit of evidence. |
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|
Scoobies |
Police |
 |
|
Scooby |
Clue, ryhming slang (Scooby
Doo) |
|
|
Scooter |
Gay person |
|
|
Scooper |
Person who cruises in his
car to impress the girls - or, in the case of a
scooter scooper on a scooter' - a person who cruises
on his scooter to impress the boys. |
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Scorrie |
Herring gull |
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Scramble |
In days or yore where there
was a wedding there was a scramble. And where there
was a scramble there was a score of boys fighting
for the 'pennies' thrown from the wedding cars.
Nowadays kids couldn't be arsed fighting over less
than a twenty pond note. |
|
|
Scran |
Food |
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|
Scratchcer |
Bed |
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Screws |
Police |
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Screwtap |
A bottle of beer.
|
 |
|
Scud |
Cider / Naked |
Ah seen you in the scud
drinking scud. |
|
Scud book |
Porno magazine |
|
|
Scudder |
A red face from
embarrassment. |
He goat a real scudder when
his maw caught him in the scud looking it his scud
books. He was a
little bit embarrassed when is mother found him in
the bath playing with his plastic duck while reading
the Playboy. |
|
Scum |
Police |
|
|
Scunner |
An annoying person / To sicken |
|
|
Scunnered |
Feel annoyed / Fed-up / a
strong dislike |
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|
Scuntted |
To Hit (someone) |
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Seen |
Used instead of saw |
Ah seen you in the scud. |
|
Sel |
Self |
|
|
Selt |
Sold |
Huv ye selt yon old wreck o
a car yet? |
|
Session |
A period of drinking. (In
some parts of Glasgow a session last from New year's
day until Hogmanay) |
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|
Shag |
To have sex with. |
Ah'm so horny Ah could shag
a meat pie. I have
finally gone insane. |
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Shed |
Parting the hair so it
sweeps to one side. |
Oh Ah like yer shed Billy -
it hides yer bald patch no bad. |
|
Shelter belter |
Loose girls who partake of
heavy petting (and often more) in bus shelters. |
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Shirrackin |
A severe telling off -
probably administered by Maw. |
Betty goat a real
shirrackin fur staying oot efter 10 o' clock. |
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Shitebag |
Coward / General derogatory
term |
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|
Shocker |
A real
surprise |
Yon snow wiz a real shocker
wiz it no'. Gosh, who
would expect snow in January - that came right out
of the blue!!! |
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Shoogly |
Wobbly |
|
|
Shoosh |
Be quiet |
Shoosh, Ah cannie hear
masel' thing. Shut
Up!!!! |
|
Shoot |
Inject
drugs |
|
|
Shoot the craw |
Leave in a hurry |
|
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Shouldnae |
Shouldn't |
|
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Shooie, Shoo, Shug or
Shuggy |
Anyone in Glasgow having
the misfortune to have been christened Hugh will
forever more be called Shooie, Shoo, Shug or Shuggy |
Gie's a hug, Shug, ya big
mug. |
|
Shoot the Crow |
Leave, depart, make an
exit, vamoose. |
It's Big Tam's round next -
jist watch Ah bet he shoots the crow. |
|
Sid, The |
C.I.D, criminal investigation
division or undercover police |
|
|
Simmet |
Vest |
 |
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Single End |
One room tenement flat |
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Single fish |
Pish |
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Sinker |
A dirty look. |
He wiz looing it her awe
leery like so she jist gies him a sinker so she diz. |
|
Sitooter |
Conservatory |
'Jinks, Willie and Jean ur
huvin' a sitooter built.'
Yer
kiddin' - They'll be huvin' a lavvie built before ye
know it!'
'Goodness - our posh
neighbours are having a conservatory built.'
'You jest
- why it won't belong before their having a toilet
built too.' |
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Skank |
Pure stinkin |
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Skate it |
To pass exams or win
something with ease. |
Ah'm no goin' tae study fur
ma English exam - all skate it nae bother. |
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Skelf |
A splinter of wood or metal
stuck in the body. Also used to suggest that
someone is very skinny. |
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Skelly |
Cross Eyed |
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Skelp |
To Slap, Hit |
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Skelter |
Extremely ugly person |
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Skenker |
A person of ill repute. |
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Skins |
Rizla cigarette papers for
rolling joints. |
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Skint |
To have no money |
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Skip |
To avoid paying the fare on
a bus or train. |
Ah skipped ma fair oan the
Glasgow tae Edinburgh train - noo Ah can afford a
down payment oan that wee flat Ah fancied. |
|
Skirl |
The shrill sound made by
the chanter pipe of bagpipes. |
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Skirlin' |
Shrieking With Excitement |
|
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Skite |
Slip / Hit someone with the
hand |
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|
Skiver |
One who avoids tasks or work
in general / Lazy person |
Charlie He’s A Skiver
Tune: Charlie He’s Me Darling
Chorus
O, Charlie he’s a skiver,
A skiver, a skiver.
Charlie he’s a skiver,
The young Chav-in-Gear.
Twas on a Monday Morning,
Jist efter twenty beer,
Thit Charlie came tae oor buroo,
The young Chav-in-Gear.
As he was walking up the aisles,
The claims forms for to view,
O, there he spied the ‘child allowance’,
And some ‘invalidity benefits’ too.
Sae glad he jumped up an’ doon,
Demanding fifty poun’,
Saying “Ah’m goan tae top masel’,
If Ah don’t get it soon”.
We gave him awe the money,
Fur we hudnae any choice,
And now he’s getting awfy pissed,
Wae the other skiving boys.
[From No' Rabbie Burns by Stuart McLean] |
|
Skoosh |
Fizzy soft drink. |
Gie's a slug a yer skoosh
and ye kin huv a dod a ma sannie. |
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Skud |
Cider |
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Skunk |
Type of cannabis |
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Skunner |
Annoying person |
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Skunnered |
Annoyed / Fed up |
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Slabber |
To drool over something |
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Slag |
A girl who sleeps around |
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Slapper |
Woman of ill repute |
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Slash |
To piss |
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Slasha Hat |
Ned's skip Cap |
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Slater |
A wood louse |
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Slaverin' (at the mouth) |
Dripping from the mouth |
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Sleekit |
Sly |
To a Tattie – on Turning
Her Over and Putting Her in the Oven at Gas Mark
Seven for Thirty Minutes
(An almost traditional St. Patrick’s Day dedication
to the common potato.)
Wee sleekit, cow'rin, tim'rous tattie,
Plucked frae the ground ye little fattie,
Thou need na try to rin aff hasty,
Tae save yer life,
Cos I wid hae to rin an’ chase thee,
Wi’ murdering knife.
I'm truly sorry man's cuisine,
Has broken Nature's social scene,
But efter awe, yer jist a spud,
Fruit o’ the earth, child o’ the mud,
Baked tae make ye o’ sae tasty,
Tae ony mortal!
Still thou art blest, compar'd wi' me
Even though I’ll eat you for my tea:
Wae baked-beans spread on top of ye.
What is your effect goin’ tae be?
I’ll fart all day – my wind blowin’ free,
I guess an' fear!
[From No' Rabbie by Stuart McLean] |
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Slever |
To talk nonsense |
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|
Slug |
A drink from a bottle or
can. The amount that can be swallowed in one gulp. |
Geeza slug o' yer barbru.
May I partake in the pleasure of your Irn-Bru? |
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Slunge |
To wash out / Rinse |
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Sma' |
Small Better a sma’ fish
than an empty dish.
It’s better to eat well at McDonalds than to wash
dishes at the Ritz.
[From A Midge in Your Hand is Worth Two Up the Kilt] |
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Smeekit |
Drunk |
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Smidgeon |
A small piece |
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Snaster |
Treat such as a cake |
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Snaw |
Snow |
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Sneck |
To kiss someone |
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Snib |
Door lock |
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Snib,The |
Prison |
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Snibbed |
Grounded by parents! (Kept In) |
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Snog |
Heavy kissing often involving
the use of hands. |
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Snottery |
A runny nose. Often used as
a term of insult. |
Yon snottery old bugger
wouldnae gie ye the time o day. |
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Soap dodger |
Dirty person |
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Sodjer |
Soldier |
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Somedae |
Someone |
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Sorted |
Fixed out
Sorted
noun
Ned equivalent of the expression ‘everything is
tickety-boo’. So, when a Ned’s Nova has had its big
end repaired or he finally manages to get his CD
collection into alphabetical order, he will say,
“sorted man.”
[From Ned Speak by Stuart McLean] |
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Sook |
Suck. |
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Sook |
Suck up to someone (usually
to get a favour in return) |
He's a right wee sook - he
wid kiss the boss's arse fur a bit a overtime. |
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Sooky |
Blow Job |
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Sowel (eg wee sowel) |
Soul |
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Spam Valley |
Area of cheap housing eg
Duntocher - owners live on spam so they can pay the
mortgage |
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Spare |
Single unattached women. |
Dae ye think there'll be
any spare it the party the night? |
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Specky |
A person who wears spectacles
will undauntedly be called specky from time to time. |
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Speerin’ |
Asking a father for his
daughter's hand in marriage. |
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Spelderd |
Spread Out |
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Spent |
Worn out |
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Sponny |
Unbelievably lucky |
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Spoon |
Caress
openly |
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Sporran |
A purse that is worn around
the waist when wearing the kilt. |
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Sprogs |
Children |
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Square go |
An even fight / fight without
weapons |
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Stane / Staen |
Stone |
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Stank |
Drain cover |
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Stank monster |
Ugly person |
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Stappit Fu |
Full right up |
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Staund, Staun |
Stand |
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Stauner |
Erection |
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Steaky |
Knife |
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Steamboats |
Drunk |
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Steamin' |
Drunk |
Ah wis steamin' so Ah wis,
an' all I hud wis twenty bottles o' Bucky. |
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Steamie |
A communal washhouse.
"The Steamie" is a comedy-drama stage play, written
by Rab C. Nesbitt actor Tony Roper. It followed the
lives of a group of 1950s Glasgow women washing
their clothes in a public washhouse (steamie). It
was first performed at the Crawford Theatre, Glasgow
in 1987. |
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Stoaner |
An erection |
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Stoap |
Stop |
Whit ur ye daein' Bobby?
Ach nuhin' maw.
Well gonnae stoap it - it's really getting oan ma
tits. |
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Stoat |
Bounce |
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Stoated |
Pissed out yer nut |
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Stoater |
A Sound Person, a person who's
"okay" |
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Stoater / Stoatir |
Very pretty girl |
She’s a wee stoater – so she
is |
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Stoating |
Very good |
That's a stoating
car ye've goat. |
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Stoatter |
Clever play on words |
Whit a stoatter
- that joke wiz |
|
Stoaturs |
Very good / Very pretty girls |
Yon burds ur a
right pair of stoaturs. |
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Stoavin to Stoavin |
to be extremely drunk |
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Stocky |
Big built (person) |
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Stone of Destiny |
Stone of Scone The Stone
of Scone, also commonly known as the Stone of
Destiny or the Coronation Stone is an oblong block
of red sandstone, used for centuries in the
coronation of the monarchs of Scotland, the monarchs
of England, and, more recently, British monarchs.
Historically, the artefact was kept at Scone Abbey
in Scone, near Perth, |
 |
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Stooshie |
Trouble |
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Stooky |
Plaster cast ie. for broken
limb |
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Stoor |
Dust |
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Stoorie / Stoory |
Dusty |
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Stormer |
Something that's superb. |
Whit a goal - that wiz a
proper stormer. |
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Stoshus |
Very drunk |
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Stovies |
Chunks of sausage mixed
into mashed potatoes. |
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Stramash |
Argument or fight |
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Strang |
Strong |
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Stowed oot |
Completely full |
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Stramash |
A kafuffle / fight
|
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Stumple Stoussie |
Short, Sturdy Child |
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Stunner |
A gorgeous looking girl. |
She's a wee stunner is she
no - pity she's such a bloody bigheaded edjit. |
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Sub Crawl |
Glaswegian version of pub
crawl. In this you have to travel to all fifteen
stations visiting the nearest pub for a wee
refreshment. Sometimes referred to as the
Clockwork Orange Death. |
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Subway |
Glasgow's attempt at an
underground system.
There are fifteen
stations arranged in a loop.
The subway is nicknamed
nickname, "The Clockwork Orange" (supposedly coined
from the title of the book and film A Clockwork
Orange). |
Glasgow Underground
Stations * Hillhead — Serves the University
of Glasgow, Glasgow Botanic Gardens and Byres Road
* Kelvinbridge — For Great Western Road and
Kelvingrove Park.
* St. George’s Cross - Surface building rebuilt
during construction of M8 during late 1960s
* Cowcaddens - Serves The Willow Tearooms and
Glasgow School of Art
* Buchanan Street — connects to Glasgow Queen Street
Station via travelator
* St Enoch — short walk to Glasgow Central Station
and Argyle Street railway station
* Bridge Street. Serves the O2 Academy.
* West Street.
* Shields Road. Park and Ride.
* Kinning Park
* Cessnock — Serves the Glasgow Science Centre
(including Glasgow Tower, the IMAX cinema), BBC
Scotland and the STV Studios
* Ibrox — (named Copland Road before modernisation)
(also serves Ibrox stadium)
* Govan (named Govan Cross before modernisation)
* Partick (replaced the pre-modernisation Merkland
Street station; the old station is slightly to the
south-west of the current one)
* Kelvinhall (named Partick Cross before
modernisation). |
|
Sun |
A big
orange thing sometimes seen in the sky for a few
moments in June. |
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Swadger |
Sweets |
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Swallied |
Swollowed |
|
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Swally |
To partake in the drinking
of alcohol |
Will ye hae a wee swally?
Will you help me finish off these six bottles of
malt whisky? |
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Swagger |
A motion of moving arms |
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Swamp Donkey |
Unattractive Woman |
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Swankin |
Joking |
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Swatch |
Have a look |
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