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shoogly

Shoogly is a wonderfully expressive Scots dialect adjective meaning shaky, wobbly, unsteady, or rickety — the quality of something that trembles, tilts, or might collapse at any moment.

ˈʃuɡli165 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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#1·Apr 28, 2026

Shoogly is a wonderfully expressive Scots dialect adjective meaning shaky, wobbly, unsteady, or rickety — the quality of something that trembles, tilts, or might collapse at any moment. Often used to describe a precarious chair, an unstable structure, or a person feeling physically unsteady. The word 'shoogly peg' is a well-known Scots phrase for an insecure position (to be hanging on a shoogly peg means your position is at risk). The word itself sounds exactly like what it means.

The step-ladder was so shoogly that everyone told him to get down before he broke his neck.
Origin: From Scots 'shog' or 'shoogle' (to shake, wobble); the '-ly' suffix adds the adjectival form; related to dialectal words for rocking or jolting. Editorial expansion authored on Slangora.
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#2·Apr 27, 2026

(Scotland) shaky, giddy, unsteady, rickety.

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