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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BOOSE, Bous, n.² and v.² Cf. Buss, n.⁶ [bus]

1. n. “Mouth, not quite a dignified term to apply to the human mouth; very often = a pursed mouth and also = a sulky expression of face” (Arg. 1929 (per Cai.⁸)); the snout or muzzle of an animal.Cai.¹ c.1920:
Bous, protruding mouth.Highl. 1992:
She has a boose on. What's the boose about? Rs. 1944 C. M. Maclean Farewell to Tharrus 81:
As I stood there, a cold boose pushed itself into my hand.Arg. c.1850 The Follinash (per Arg.¹ 1929) iv.:
Anooth a bootrie bush sat Khetch While tears her boose did wash.Arg.¹ 1929:
He had a boose on 'um ye could have tied wi' a clove hitch [wi' a thoom-rape (Arg.² 1935)].Arg. 1992:
He'd a wile boose on him Arg. 1998 Angus Martin The Song of the Quern 52:
Forgie me - A'll no invite ye in.
It's no that A'm prood o the hoose
or asham't o ma granfaither, no:
it's the state o yer claes, an yer boose.Ayr. 1914 T.S.D.C. I:
A pouting frown. “Whit a boose she pit on.”

2. v. “To pout the lips or protrude the tongue in scorn or derision” (Arg.² c.1893). Hence, to sulk.Arg.¹ 1929:
Teacher: “What's your tongue for, children?” Youngster (girl): “Please, miss, for boosn.”Kcb. 1914 A. Chalmers W.-L.:
Boose, to sulk. “What are ye boosin' at?”