Scots

[ skots ]

/ skɒts /

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noun

Also called Scottish. the English language as spoken in Scotland.Compare Scottish Gaelic.

adjective

Scottish (def. 1).

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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of Scots

1325–75; syncopated form of Scottis,Middle English, variant (north) of Scottish

words often confused with Scots

See Scotch.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH Scots

Scot, Scots , Scotch, Scottish (see confusables note at Scotch)

Words nearby Scots

scotoma, scotophil, scotophobia, scotophobin, scotopia, Scots, Scots Greys, Scots-Irish, Scotsman, Scots pine, Scotswoman

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Scots in a sentence

Last year it was discovered that an American teenager had created nearly half of the Scots language Wikipedia pages, without actually knowing the language.
On its 20th birthday, Wikipedia might be safest place online|Heather Kelly|January 15, 2021|Washington Post
Most of the Scots language edition of Wikipedia was written by an American teenager who doesn’t actually speak the language.
How a Scots Wikipedia scandal highlighted AI’s data problem|Nicolás Rivero|August 27, 2020|Quartz
It is a reasonable assumption, considering his roots in the Republican Party, in the Marines, and his proud Scots-Irish roots.
Hillary Gets a Challenger and He’s a Marine|David Freedlander|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Japanese distillers often use a combination of different types of stills and different casks, whereas the Scots cannot.
Watch Out, Scotland! Japanese Whisky Is on the Rise|Kayleigh Kulp|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST

One of the most common answers I found when asking Scots about the roots of the myth was poverty.
Scotland’s ‘Yes’ Campaign and the Myth of Scottish Equality|Noah Caldwell|September 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After the postwar disintegration of the British Empire, Scots curiously disassociated themselves with the period altogether.
Scotland’s ‘Yes’ Campaign and the Myth of Scottish Equality|Noah Caldwell|September 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And far from being secondary partners, Scots featured disproportionately in overseas imperial exploitation.
Scotland’s ‘Yes’ Campaign and the Myth of Scottish Equality|Noah Caldwell|September 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At the same time he imperiously insisted on the submission of such Scots as had not yet joined him.
King Robert the Bruce|A. F. Murison
He had received to the peace some complaisant Scots whose lands or dwellings lay on his northward route.
King Robert the Bruce|A. F. Murison
Valence seems to have been ready to accept Bruce's challenge, but to have been dissuaded by his Scots friends.
King Robert the Bruce|A. F. Murison
Meantime this fatal administrative weakness was greatly counterbalanced by the political divisions among the Scots.
King Robert the Bruce|A. F. Murison
The garrison were making merry in the hall, when the Scots burst in upon them with the Douglas war-cry.
King Robert the Bruce|A. F. Murison

British Dictionary definitions for Scots

Scots

/ (skɒts) /

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of Scotland, its people, their English dialects, or their Gaelic language

noun

any of the English dialects spoken or written in ScotlandSee also Lallans

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012