scunner

[ skuhn-er ]

noun

1. an irrational dislike; loathing:

   She took a scunner to him.

verb (used without object)

1. Scot. and North England. to feel or show violent disgust, especially to flinch, blanch, or gag.

verb (used with object)

1. Scot. and North England. to disgust; nauseate.

scunner

/ ˈskʌnər; ˈskʌnə /

verb

1. intr to feel aversion
2. tr to produce a feeling of aversion in

noun

1. a strong aversion (often in the phrase take a scunner to )
2. an object of dislike; nuisance

Word History and Origins

Origin of scunner¹

1325–75; Middle English ( Scots ) skunner to shrink back in disgust, equivalent to skurn to flinch (akin to scare ) + -er -er ⁶, with loss of first r by dissimilation

Word History and Origins

Origin of scunner¹

C14: from Scottish skunner, of unknown origin

Example Sentences

Was it possible that Timmy had a "scunner" against poor little Enid Crofton?

From Project Gutenberg

But she had what the Scotch call a 'scunner' against me when I was a boy.

From Project Gutenberg

"So I would if it weren't that I've a kind of a scunner of those black bog-holes," Bale said.

From Project Gutenberg

When the three walked out together, they made a scunner run through the colony o' Larut.

From Project Gutenberg

In these days I would scunner at the very word, if you know what that means, M. Montaiglon.

From Project Gutenberg