51�Թ�

Scotland's weather has a reputation for being wet, damp, drookit.

The Scots invented the word dour perhaps to describe some of its sleepy seaside towns like Carnoustie, whose granite-gray high street is visited by howling North Sea winds and other brutal meteorological conditions for which, again, only Scottish words will do: dreich, snell, drookit, fret.

TROON, Scotland -- In Scottish parlance, Phil Mickelson was “drookit” after a wet 18-holes out on the links of Royal Troon.

You’re some drookit, but I reckon we can dry you like we did the grub,” his riding mate said.

Large as the Yarrow was, and it appeared impassable by any living creature, Hector had made his escape early in the morning, had swam the river, and was sitting, 'like a drookit hen,' on a knoll at the east end of the house, awaiting my arrival with great impatience.