A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Gousty, Gowsty, a. Also: goust-, gowstie. [Of obscure origin.] Vast and dreary, dismal, depressing, ghastly, gruesome. (Freq. used by Douglas.)1513 Doug. iii. ix. 57.
A gowsty [Sm. gousty] hald within, laithly to se Ib. vi. i. 21.
That feirfull gowsty cave Ib. ix. xii. 62.
So large feild hys gowsty body tuke 1533 Boece ix. i. 286.
Consumyt in person goustie and lene he held his bed a1568 Bann. MS. 255 a/29.
Misgovernit ȝowth makis gowsty age 1681 Glanvill Sadducismus ii. 295.
He observed that the black man's voice was hough [= how, hollow] and goustie
