Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PLOWSTER, v., n. Also pluister, plooster. [′plʌustər, ′plu-]

I. v. To work messily in mud or the like, to “mess around” on marshy ground, flounder about (Rxb. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry Gl., 1923 Watson W.-B., Rxb. 1966).Fif. 1875 A. Burgess Poute 117:
The tane was gain' plowsterin' through the gutters.Watson:
Plowsterin' in the glaur, snaw, etc.Mry. 1952 Bulletin (27 May):
Surely it was in another land that we pluistered last May when we tried to get the crops into a raw inhospitable earth lashed with cold and rain.

II. n. 1. A mess, disorder; a muddle, “shambles”, a botch, bungled job (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., Rxb. 1966).Sc. 1839 J. W. Carlyle New Letters (1903) I. 79:
He has made “a horrible pluister” of it.Dmf. 1849 Carlyle Life in London (Froude) II. 8:
He has made an awesome plooster o' that place.

2. An incompetent, messy worker, a bungler (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.. Rxb. 1966).Dmf. 1834 Carlyle Letters (Norton) II. 253:
Our maid, who accomplished this feat, is the best-natured, most laborious of Pluisters.