donsie

or don·sy

[don-see, dawn-]

adjective

Midland U.S. somewhat sick, weak, or lacking in vitality; not completely well.
Scot. unfortunate; ill-fated; unlucky.
British Dialect. fastidious; neat; tidy.

Origin of donsie

1710–20; < Scots Gaelic donas harm, ill + -ie

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for donsie

Historical Examples of donsie

She was the daughter of a donsie mother, that could gie no name to her gets, of which she had two laddies, besides Jean.
The Provost
John Galt