Scotch mist
- noun
- UK
- A fine Scotch mist clung to the city, making the streets glisten.
Examples
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A gentle Scotch mist covered the hills this morning.
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They set out for their hike, undeterred by the steady Scotch mist.
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The hills were shrouded in a damp Scotch mist all morning.
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Many tourists enjoy walking in the Scotch mist of the Highlands.
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The golfer struggled to see the ball through the dense Scotch mist as it rolled across the green.
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On our hike, the Scotch mist added a magical atmosphere to the already beautiful Scottish landscape.
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We decided to stay indoors because the Scotch mist made it too difficult to enjoy our picnic.
Synonyms
A thin fog near the ground that makes it hard to see
How Heavy
- UK
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a light, persistent rain or mist associated with Scotland' is directly derivable from combining 'Scotch' (pertaining to Scotland) with 'mist' (light fog/drizzle). This follows a common adjective + noun composition pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer it denotes a type of mist (with only a minor regional nuance about persistence).
Etymology
Scotch mist comes from the simple image of thin mist in Scotland: Scotch means 'from Scotland' and mist is the fine, damp air that often falls there. So, the phrase means 'a light, persistent rain'.