chiefly Scotland
: dreary

Examples of dreich in a Sentence

historically regarded as a dreich corner of Britain, Scotland's very name comes from the Greek word for “dark”

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse drjūgr lasting

First Known Use

1786, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dreich was in 1786

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dreich.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dreich. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.

Last Updated: - Definition revised
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