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.
Quotation dates: 1533-1610
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Fowsum, a. Also: fow-, fousome. [Var. of Fulsum a. Cf. Fow a.]
1. = Foulsum a. 1533 Bell. Livy I. 166/26.
The habit of his body was richt fowsum 1533 Boece ii. xii. 82 b.
The twa bredir … be fowsum flytingis lichtlying vtheris a1568 Scott. xxxiv. 13.
Ane fowsum appetyte, That strenth of persoun waikis a1585 Polwart Flyt. 593 (T).
Swa all his fowsome forme thairto effeiris
2. Cloying, causing distaste. 1600-1610 Melvill 441.
They … thought it meittest to tak tyme to mollefie and moyen maters, lest they sould grow fousome at the first
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"Fowsum adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/fowsum>
