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unchancy

[uhn-chan-see, -chahn-]
adjective Chiefly Scot.
  1. unlucky.
  2. dangerous.
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Origin of unchancy

First recorded in 1525–35; un-1 + chancy
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for unchancy

Historical Examples

  • I would fain not run the risk, for folk say that he is an unchancy creature.

    The Scottish Fairy Book

    Elizabeth W. Grierson

  • Ghosts were unchancy folk, even if they were our family ghosts.

    The Story Girl

    Lucy Maud Montgomery

  • "Ye shall na stay anither minute in this unchancy kirkyard," cried Helen, forcing him away with her.

    The Manchester Rebels of the Fatal '45

    William Harrison Ainsworth

  • I pulled his head round away from the ghost, drew out a pistol, and watched the unchancy thing's movements.

    The Yeoman Adventurer

    George W. Gough

  • There was great glory and triumph in this; but why had his grace come at so unchancy a moment?

    Framley Parsonage

    Anthony Trollope

British Dictionary definitions for unchancy

unchancy

adjective
  1. Scot unlucky, ill-omened, or dangerousCompare wanchancy
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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