donsie

American  

[don-see, dawn-] / ˈdɒn si, ˈdɔn- /

Or donsy

adjective

1. Midland U.S. somewhat sick, weak, or lacking in vitality; not completely well.

2. Scot. unfortunate; ill-fated; unlucky.

3. British Dialect. fastidious; neat; tidy.

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Etymology

Origin of donsie

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

Example Sentences

When first I gaed to woo my Jenny, Ye then was trottin wi’ your minnie: Tho’ ye was trickle, slee, an’ funny, Ye ne’er was donsie: But hamely, tawie, quiet an’ cannie, An’ unco sonsie.

From The Complete Works of Robert Burns: Containing his Poems, Songs, and Correspondence. With a New Life of the Poet, and Notices, Critical and Biographical by Allan Cunningham by Burns, Robert

When first I gaed to woo my Jenny, Ye then was trotting wi' your minnie: Tho' ye was trickie, slee, an' funnie, Ye ne'er was donsie; But hamely, tawie, quiet, an' cannie, An' unco sonsie.

From Poems and Songs of Robert Burns by Burns, Robert

But what is to become of the poor donsie woman, no one can expound. 

From The Ayrshire Legatees, or, the Pringle family by Galt, John

Dark, darg, task. dauner, daunder, stroll. dauty, pet. dinle, thrill. dirl, v. clatter, thrill. doless, void of energy. dominie, schoolmaster. donsie, unfortunate.

From Ringan Gilhaize or The Covenanters by Galt, John

The Lowland Scotch has donsie, "unfortunate, stupid."—Notes and Queries, 225, September 21, 1878.

From Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama, Vol. 1 A Revised American Edition of the Reader's Handbook by Brewer, Ebenezer Cobham