Scots Word of the week

The Tab brings you the A-Z of Scots words. D’ye spaek Scots?


Since we study here in bonnie Scotland, The Tab has decided to give you the low down each week on our favourite ‘Scots’ words.

This week:

‘Auld Reekie’

Meaning: Nickname for Edinburgh

Literally means: Old Smokey

Good Auld Reekie

In the eighteenth-century, Edinburgh was a pretty whiffy place. Think industrialism and all that jazz. As The Sunday Times wrote in 2002 ” ‘Auld Reekie’ ” was so overcrowded and malodorous that the whiff was apparent miles away.” Good thing it isn’t like that today.