Originating from a parlour game, the book is a “dictionary of things that there aren’t any words for yet” using existing place names and was published in 1983.
The much-missed Douglas Adams revealed that he was on holiday in Corfu with writer and producer John Lloyd when they started coming up with the definitions – while he was writing the first of the classic ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’ books.
Both men went on to enjoy successful careers, Adams with a series of best-selling novels and Lloyd with television programmes such as QI, Not The Nine O’Clock News, Spitting Image and Blackadder.
But they both returned to Liff in later years, creating an expanded volume before Adams’ tragic death at the age of 49 in May 2001.
Many of the place names used are those familiar with Scots – including the village of Liff just outside Dundee which gives the book its name.
Here are 13 Scottish places and their definitions from the book which is available to buy from Amazon and all good book shops.
Read more:
5. Ockle (a small hamlet on the the Ardnamurchan peninsula)
Ockle (n.) An electrical switch which appears to be off in both positions. Photo: Google Maps
6. Crail
Crail (n. mineral) Crail is a common kind of rock or gravel found widely across the British Isles. Each individual stone (due to an as yet undiscovered gravitational property) is charged with 'negative buoyancy'. This means that no matter how much crail you remove from the garden, more of it will rise to the surface. Crail is much employed by the Royal Navy for making the paperweights and ashtrays used inside submarines. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
7. Dunbar
Dunbar (n.) A highly specialised fiscal term used solely by turnstile operators at Regent's Park Zoo. It refers to the variable amount of increase in the gate takings on a Sunday afternoon caused by persons going to the zoo because they are in love and believe that the feeling of romance will be somehow enhanced by the smell of panther sweat and rank incontinence in the reptile house. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
8. Spittal of Glenshee
Spittal of Glenshee (n.) That which has to be cleaned off castle floors in the morning after a bagpipe contest or vampire attack. Photo: Google Maps