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Teuchter (/ˈtjxtər/)[1][2][2] is a Lowland Scots word originally used to describe a Scottish Highlander, in particular a Gaelic-speaking Highlander.[3] Like most such cultural epithets, it can be seen as offensive, but is often seen as amusing by the speaker. The term is contemptuous, essentially describing someone seen to be uncouth and rural.[2][3]



The word also shows up as cheuchter, chuchter, teuchtar, chookter but has no universally accepted orthography. From relative obscurity, it gained currency around 1910. [3]

There are three main theories on the etymology of the word:







See alsoEdit


  1. ^ Oxford English Dictionary, second edition, 1989
  2. ^ a b c Robinson, Mairi, ed. (1985). The Concise Scots dictionary. Aberdeen University Press. ISBN 978-0-08-028491-0.
  5. ^ "Arizona Irish Music Society". 1999-10-30. Archived from the original on 2010-02-19. Retrieved 2010-03-30.