unchancy

[ uhn-chan-see, -chahn- ]

adjective

, Chiefly Scot.

1. unlucky.
2. dangerous.

unchancy

/ ʌnˈtʃɑːnsɪ /

adjective

1. unlucky, ill-omened, or dangerous Compare wanchancy

Word History and Origins

Origin of unchancy¹

First recorded in 1525–35; un- ¹ + chancy

Example Sentences

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

From Project Gutenberg

Accordingly, between puffs of his pipe, he explained that he thought one of my aunt's maids, whose name was Elizabeth, a very fine young woman; and he also thought the parson's cook, whose name was Jane, a very fine young woman; but that after the sad fate of our vessel, and the distressing discovery that the first Elizabeth Jane's father had been hanged, he was afraid there was something "unchancy," as he put it, about both names.

From Project Gutenberg

Na, na, Maister Weelum; dreams are queer, contrary, unchancy things to sweer by.

From Project Gutenberg

"But," continued the laird, "mind the Middlemass wood, sir, and keep a gleg ee about ye when ye're passin through't; for, as I was sayin before, there's some gay unchancy chiels thereabouts enow."

From Project Gutenberg

“I'll not deny that things look 'unchancy,' as we say in the North, Cousin Jane; but, for the life of me, I don't see how they are to be bettered by anything I can do now.”

From Project Gutenberg