The Scots Language in Outlander: 13 Scottish words and phrases from Ken to Dinna Fash
“Dinna Fash, Sassenach” is a phrase from Outlander that features not just one but two Scottish languages; Gaelic and Scots. Today, we’re focusing on the latter.
Despite Gaelic being at threat of extinction and Scots (the tongue of the famous Robert Burns) facing a similarly stark decline, they are still officially seen as native languages of Scotland.
If Scottish words and sayings like “stramash”, “gomeral” or “peely wally” have you scratching your head then carry on reading for thirteen Scots expressions in Outlander used by Jamie Fraser and his ‘teuchter’ crew.
Pronounced like “bizzum” this term is often used to refer to a woman either in a disparaging or playful manner depending on the context. Officially, the Dictionars o the Scots Leid defines it as: “A term of contempt applied to a person, gen. a woman; sometimes to a woman of loose character, sometimes jocularly to a woman or young girl.” Photo: Submitted
Only in Scotland might you hear this term being used in the doctor’s office. If your physician says “you’re looking a wee bit peely wally” that means that you’re sickly in appearance, particularly with a pale complexion. In this scene where Claire faints at a funeral, on the build-up to her collapse you could certainly say she looked very peely wally. Photo: YouTube Screenshot via Outlander- Fraser's Ridge Brasil
As James McAvoy said about the setting of Macbeth, it’s “incredibly superstitious, and that’s something that I do believe is Scottish.” While the term ‘wee folk’ could refer to lowly citizens it is also well-established in Scottish mythology as a word for folklore creatures like fairies which were said to be malevolent or benevolent depending on the type they were. Photo: YouTube Screenshot via Brandy Van Voorst
“Ill will can mak a stooshie, but love can settle a stramash”. This Scots proverb means that badwill can cause a row between people but love can settle the “noisy commotion” or “uproar” that results from it. Jamie and Claire, throughout the course of Outlander, have had many a stramash but their love sees them through time and again. Photo: YouTube Screenshot via Tributevideo