What Does “Dinna Fash” Mean? Plus 27 Essential Scots & Gaelic Words

Learn all about this reassuring phrase used on Outlander

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Sophie Burkholder, BA. Sophie Burkholder graduated from Boston University in 2020 with dual degrees in Spanish and Modern Foreign Language Education. For three years, Sophie worked as a classroom teacher and strived to foster a love of learning and self-empowerment in her students. With that same purpose but a new audience, she now writes for the content team at wikiHow. She’s passionate about giving readers the tools they need for any goal, big or small.

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Sheep-dotted hills, trilling bagpipes, ancient castles, throat-burning whiskey…these are just a few of the things that we associate with the stunning country that gave us the phrase dinna fash. And whether you’re planning a trip to Bonnie Scotland or just emerging from a binge-watching session of Outlander, you may be wondering about the exact meaning of this historic Highlands phrase. Well, dinna fash yersel no more! We’ll tell you everything you need to know about dinna fash and other phrases in the Scots and Gaelic languages.

Dinna fash means “don’t worry.” You might use this phrase to tell someone not to be concerned about something or not to trouble themselves with a certain task. Although originating in 16th century Scotland, dinna fash has been popularized by the TV show Outlander.

1. 

   Bannock Bannock is a type of Scottish oatcake popular during the 18th century. The bannock is a round, flat, and unsweetened cake made of oatmeal or barley.[11]
   Bannocks were baked on a griddle and served as the most common and “ordinary” bread during this era in Scotland.[12]

   • The word’s etymology likely comes from the Old English bannuc, which is derived from the Gaelic bannoch (“morsel”) and Latin panicium, which means bread.

2. Bairn Bairn is another way to say “child.” The word “bairn” derives from the Scots language but is still used in modern dialects of Scottish English.[13]
   Originating in Old English as the word “bearn,” bairn can be used to refer to children directly or in the third person.[14]

   • In Outlander, the male protagonist Jamie Fraser often refers to his children, Fergus and Brianna, as “the bairns.”[15]

3. Besom Pronounced as “bizzum,” the term “besom” is usually used to refer to a woman—although its meaning depends a lot on context. “Besom” may be used in a teasing way to discuss a mischievous young girl, as in “that wee besom’s always getting into something.”[16]

   • More commonly, however, a “besom” is used as a derogatory term implying that a woman has weak moral character or low standing.
   • An alternative meaning of the word “besom” is “instrument for sweeping” or “broom.” This usage was popular in both English and Scots from the Middle Ages through the nineteenth century.

4. Bonny or Bonnie Bonnie is a complimentary adjective meaning “beautiful,” “pretty,” or “handsome.” The term is most famously used in connection to historical figure Charles Edward Stuart, who was nicknamed Bonnie Prince Charlie and played an instrumental role in Scottish history.[17]

   • Bonnie continues to be a popular term in modern-day Scotland and is often used to refer to “Bonnie Scotland” herself.[18]
   • The term was famously used by poet Robert Burns in his work “A Red, Red Rose:” So fair art thou, my bonnie lass/So deep in luve am I/And I will luve thee still, my dear/Till a’ the seas gang dry.[19]
   • The exact origin of “bonny” or “bonnie” is unknown, although the word likely comes from the French bon, which means “good.”[20]

5. Bothy A bothy is a small hut or shelter that was commonly used by rural residents like shepherds and farmers. They can be found across the remote parts of Scotland and Northern England and are usually left unlocked for anyone to use free of charge.[21]

   • Welsh naturalist Thomas Pennant described the Scottish bothies as dairy houses where Highland shepherds lived with their flocks while producing that season’s butter and cheese.
   • “Bothy” likely derives from the Germanic bu–, meaning “to dwell,” same as the modern English “booth.”

6. Braw Braw is a 16th-century Scottish term to describe someone brave. However, braw can also mean that something is especially fine or excellent, especially when it comes to physical appearance or clothing.[22]

   • In Outlander, “braw” is used to describe the courageous men who fight as soldiers in the historic Jacobite Rising, as depicted in the show.

7. Broch A broch is a type of prehistoric structure made up of a round tower with inner and outer walls of stone. These structures were found throughout the Northern Isles and nearby mainlands towards the beginning of the 19th century.[23]

   • In Older Scots, however, broch may refer to a town or village, similar to the modern English “borough.”

8. Brose Brose is a Scots word for an uncooked kind of porridge or oatmeal. The classic Scottish dish is made by mixing water or milk with oatmeal or peasemeal, then adding salt or butter.[24]
   This meal is mainly associated with people living in bothies, usually farmers and shepherds.

   • Brose is often used as a broth and can be cooked with other ingredients like mussels and other proteins.[25]

9. Cockernonnie A cockernonnie is a high-coiffure hairstyle traditionally worn by females.[26]
   The term can sometimes be used to include a headdress or used metaphorically to refer to something that’s teetering in a stack. While the origin of the entire term is unknown, cocker means “to rock or walk unsteadily” in the Scots language.[27]

10. Corbie Corbie is another word for raven, from the Old French corb or corbin.[28]
    Because ravens were often seen as a bad omen, corbie was also used as a figurative term for “swindler” or “conman.”

    • In Rob Roy, noted Scottish novelist Walter Scott uses the term “corbie” in this figurative sense, revealing its usage during the times of the Jacobite Risings during the 18th century.[29]

11. Cot-House A cot-house is a very small cottage.[30]
    These cottages were often occupied by people who were called cotters or cotlanders. These lower-class individuals performed labor in exchange for the right to live in the cot-house.[31]

12. Daft Daft is another word for “stupid” in the Scots language. The term has become a loan word in modern English, where its usage and meaning remain popular around the globe. Less well known, however, is the word “dafty,” which in Scots is used to refer to a stupid person.[32]

    • In Outlander, Jamie Fraser will sometimes say “Dinna be daft, lass” to his wife Claire. While this phrase could be meant in an insulting way, the show uses it as gentle teasing.[33]

13. Dirk A dirk is a straight dagger that was a popular weapon of choice for Scottish Highlanders of the 18th century. This era was particularly violent and marked by many years of war and division, so most Highlanders wouldn’t risk being caught without their dirk by their side.[34]

    • The dirk was typically sheathed in the owner’s belt. Today, a smaller version of the belt called the “sgian-dhu” is still sometimes worn by those donning traditional Highland clothing for special events.[35]

14. Gomerel or Gomeral Gomerel is a Scots word meaning “idiot” or “foolish person.” While you can use this insult for any gender, the word itself comes from the Middle English gōme, which means “man” or “warrior.”[36]

    • You can use this term as a more advanced or cultured version of “dafty,” which similarly means “fool.”
    • The Scots language has many words to insult someone’s intelligence, including bampot, choob, doaty, dobber, and clot-heid.

15. Greet In the Scots language, “greet” means to cry. If you say that someone is “greeting,” for instance, you’re really saying that they’re shedding a tear or two. This meaning of “greet” is thought to come from the Old English grētan, which can mean “to weep” or “to lament.”[37]

16. Jacobite A Jacobite was someone who remained loyal to King James II, a Stuart king whom many people considered to be the true heir to the throne of England, Scotland, and Ireland. The term “Jacobite” comes from Jacobus, the Latin form of James.[38]

    • There were numerous Jacobite rebellions throughout the 18th century, the most notable of which being the Jacobite Rising of 1745, which essentially ended in the crushing defeat of Highland forces at the Battle of Culloden.[39]
    • The English victory at Culloden led to the end of Jacobitism as a significant political movement and brought about many years of repression and genocide against Highlanders.

17. Ken “Ken” is used in place of the modern English “know.” If someone in Scotland asks you if you “ken” something or someone, they’re asking if you know that thing or person. It’s often combined with “ye” to say “you know,” as in Do ye ken it? or I’ve been working all day, ye ken, and I’m absolutely knackered.[40]

    • In Outlander, they frequently use the phrase “dinna ken” to say “I don’t know.”

18. Laird Instead of lords and ladies, early modern Scottish people had lairds and ladies. In Scotland, however, you didn’t have to be an aristocrat to be a laird—you only had to own a large area of land in the country.[41]

    • Lairds had responsibilities similar to those of a land proprietor, such as farming, improving operations on the estate, attending trustee and lieutenant meetings, and organizing courts of justice.
    • In Outlander, many characters are called lairds—from Laird Broch Tuarach to Laird Mackenzie. Laird Mackenzie, also known as Colum Mackenzie in the show, is the Chieftain of the notable Mackenzie Clan.[42]

    • Although Colum is not a nobleman, he remains a laird because he controls a large estate and clan in the Highlands.

19. Peely Wally Being “peely wally” means that you’re looking pale or sickly in appearance. This term is still used in modern-day Scottish slang. In fact, you might even hear a doctor or medical professional say it if you visit a hospital in Scotland![43]

20. Sark Sark is another word for “shirt.” While most often used to talk about men’s shirts, sark can also be used for a woman’s nightgown. The word derives from the Old Norse serkr, which unsurprisingly also means shirt![44]

21. Sassenach Sassenach is used to describe an English person or English speaker, coming from the Gaelic word Sasannach for “English person” or “Saxon.” Keep in mind that English was not a native language of Scotland during these eras, so this word would have been used derogatorily by many who disliked the English and their invasion of Scottish territories.[45]

    • In Outlander, the term “Sassenach” is used frequently between the male and female protagonists. Jamie, a Scottish Highlander, affectionately refers to his England-born love interest Claire as “Sassenach.”[46]

    • In the series, however, Jamie calls Claire a Sassenach as a term of endearment to tease her for being English and foreign.

22. Sporran A sporran is a leather pouch used to hold money and other valuables. Highlanders would wear their sporran around their waist along with a weapon (or dirk) and basic eating utensils. The term “sporran” comes from the Gaelic sporan, meaning “purse” or “wallet.”[47]

23. Stramash A stramash is an uproar or commotion, often resulting from a disagreement or argument.[48]
    The Scots language even has a proverb that reads Ill will can mak a stooshie, but love can settle a stramash.[49]
    The message of this proverb is that bad will can cause an argument between two people, but love can settle the commotion that ensues.

24. Tinchel Tinchel is a hunting term to describe how a ring of hunters surrounds a chosen area and slowly closes in to catch their prey. The word is sometimes used to describe a pack of animals rather than human hunters. The word derives from the Gaelic timchioll, meaning “circuit” or “compass.”[50]

25. Wean Similar to “bairn,” wean refers to a child who typically hasn’t reached adolescence. Pronounced “wane,” the word blends “wee + ane,” or “wee one.” In some parts of Scotland, the two parts of the word aren’t fully blended and are written with an apostrophe, i.e., “we’an.”[51]

26. Wee Beasties In the Scots language, a “beastie” is an animal, and a “wee beastie” is a diminutive form of this term.[52]
    When someone talks about “wee beasties,” they’re usually talking about small creatures like insects.[53]
    Some people even use this term to talk about small children.

27. 

    Wee Folk The original meaning of “wee folk” referred to people belonging to the lower class, but it became a popular word for supernatural beings. Mythical creatures popular in Scottish mythology, like fairies, goblins, and sprites, might be referred to as wee folk.[54]

    • Folklore is extremely important to Scottish culture and traditions, so it’s not uncommon to hear talk of fairies and other wee folk, even in the present day!

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