English · Slang Attested

Scotch fiddle

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Scabies; an itch.

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

“Your countrywomen,” said Squander, renewing his attack on Buchanan, “prefer the Scotch fiddle.”

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

the itch; "to play the SCOTCH FIDDLE," to work the index finger of the right hand like a fiddlestick between the index and middle finger of the left. This provokes a Scotchman in the highest degree, as it implies that he is afflicted with the itch. It is supposed that a continuous oatmeal diet is productive of cutaneous affection.

Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English

Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Topics: Historical slang (1800s)

Common questions

What does “Scotch fiddle” mean?

Scabies; an itch.

Is “Scotch fiddle” formal or informal?

Scotch fiddle is generally slang.