donsie

or don·sy

[ don-see, dawn- ]

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of donsie¹

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

Example Sentences

Alas for it! we must all say, in dwelling upon the life of poor Burns, that he so frequently needed to appear as counsel for poor mortals—in his own behoof; and that "their donsie tricks, their black mistakes, their failings and mischances" should form so large a portion of the record of that life, which under other circumstances might have been one of the most brilliant and beautiful of all in the annals of genius.

From Project Gutenberg

At last, however, she said,— "Your reproach is just, I hae been to blame baith to Heaven and man—but the thing has na been unthought, only I kent na how to gang about the task; and yet what gars me say sae but a woman's weakness, for the road's no sae lang to St Andrews, and surely iniquity does not there so abound, that no ane would help me to the donsie woman's bower."

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

Hear me, ye venerable core, As counsel for poor mortals, That frequent pass douce Wisdom’s door For glaikit Folly’s portals; I, for their thoughtless, careless sakes, Would here propone defences, Their donsie tricks, their black mistakes, Their failings and mischances.

From Project Gutenberg

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 Project Gutenberg