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.
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![Gretna Green (adj.) A shade of green which makes you wish you'd painted whatever it was a different colour.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjJjZTEyOTc0LWIwMjktNDM3ZS04OGJmLTk4M2E2ZGUwNTEyOToxNWUzOWNiNS03ZTU5LTRiN2QtOTNiOC1kNDQ5ODFiMWVhNWU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
1. Gretna Green
Gretna Green (adj.) A shade of green which makes you wish you'd painted whatever it was a different colour. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
![Liff (n.) A book, the contents of which are totally belied by its cover. For instance, any book the dust jacket of which bears the words 'This book will change your life.'](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjhhZWZhMDBlLTNhNjYtNDNlYy05NzFhLWJhNjNiNzAxNzYyYTo5MWIyMzdhYS1iNWUxLTRmOTEtYTY4ZC1iOTYxNTMwN2VjZDk=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
2. Liff (a village just outside Dundee)
Liff (n.) A book, the contents of which are totally belied by its cover. For instance, any book the dust jacket of which bears the words 'This book will change your life.' Photo: Google Maps
![Aboyne (vb.) To beat an expert at a game of skill by playing so appallingly that none of his clever tactics or strategies are of any use to him.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmY1ZDFmMTA3LTQwMjQtNGQ0NS1iZjllLTU4MzVjOGY0ZTYyMjo0M2ZmYjA5OS0wYmExLTQ4YmItOGVjZS1jMThmOGY1NjIxYmY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
3. Aboyne
Aboyne (vb.) To beat an expert at a game of skill by playing so appallingly that none of his clever tactics or strategies are of any use to him. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
![Glasgow (n.) The feeling of infinite sadness engendered when walking through a place filled with happy people fifteen years younger than yourself.](https://www.scotsman.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmMwMWQ2ZDkxLWYzMzUtNDJlNy05YTEyLTQ5N2IxNGEwMDRkODoxYTc5OWYxMS1mZGZiLTQzYmMtOTMzNS0xMTg0MzU4NDJiMjg=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
4. Glasgow
Glasgow (n.) The feeling of infinite sadness engendered when walking through a place filled with happy people fifteen years younger than yourself. Photo: Canva/Getty Images