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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.

Gros, a. and n.³ Also: grose, grois, grosse. [e.m.E. grosse, gros(s, ME. groos (c 1380), F. gros, fem. grosse, big, thick, coarse.]

1. Large, fat, thick.Common in gros culvering, Culvering 2 (2). c1475 Wall. vii. 110.
The fyrst writtyng was gros letteris off bras 1490 Irland Mir. I. 46/10.
Bot the gros froitis of oure prebend we sall resaue jn the faire somere to cum 1531 Bell. Boece I. xliii.
Na thing is found in thair wambe, … bot ane thik grosse humour c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5860.
That ye mycht leif mair plesandlye And get ane gude gros portioun

b. Of persons: Big-bodied, corpulent, stout. 1531 Bell. Boece I. 129.
This Dardannus wes of sa large stature, that he wes callit the gros king 1533 Boece viii. xi. 274.
Roxiene … was gros and with chylde for the tyme a1578 Pitsc. I. 46/22.
James … quho was cailit gros because he was corpolent and growin of body

2. Coarse of grain, texture or quality; consisting of large or bulky parts. = Grof(f a. 1.(1) 1562 Treas. Acc. XI. 216.
iij … elnis of grose claith to calf the claith in the Quenis grace chalmer 1564–5 Ib. 348.
iiij elnis of grose freis 1584 Glasgow B. Rec. I. 115.
Bed coveringis and blankattis … with ane grose bowster 1598 Edinb. B. Rec. V. 223.
Sum gros reid clayth to be the weid of ane paip and his cardinells to serve the play(2) 1572 Sat. P. xxxiii. 341.
Ȝe gros geir left, and went for wyne and spices, Frenche claith and silks 1598 Conv. Burghs II. 39.
The gros wairis sic as vynigar, irne pottis, stray warde, schueilis, and suord skaillis, pay alanerle tuenty schillingis 1612 Ib. 375.
Paiper, caird, cames, stiffing, and all uther sort of gros wairs 1630 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. III. 649.
They will not suffer no grose or uneasie transportable guidis or wairis to be weyit in Leith, such as iron tackill, cabillis, towes and ankeris and uthers(3) 1531 Bell. Boece I. viii.
Thir four bodyis elemeutar: Two hevy and grosse, and two ar licht and pure 1629 M. Works Acc. XXI. 34.
For leiding of grose red to the blokhous wall(4) 1535 Stewart 29348.
Ane ȝoung stomack … Of grois meittis it ma tak skayth and harme

3. fig. a. Of persons or language: Rude, uncultivated, barbarous.(1) 1533 Boece ix. xv. 326.
The pepill was rude, gros, deif, … and nocht of capacite to resaue doctrine c1590 Fowler I. 79/53.
With manye other people moe, both barbar, gros and strange(2) 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 43.
I wald, into my rurall wlgar gros, Wryte sum savoryng of thyne Eneados 1535 Stewart 125.
My langage is both gros and rude 1549 Compl. 68/11.
The quhilk dreyme I sal reherse in this gros dyit a1578 Pitsc. I. 221/18.
The grose and rude speich and scheirp accusatioun of Lord Dawid

b. Lacking in skill, knowledge, or precision. 1513 Doug. i. Prol. 312.
And thus … My werk is mair obscur and gros per de 1562-3 Winȝet I. 30/9.
This samyn grosse exemple of the abolitioun of thir solennit dayis Ib. 86/25.
That nane suld haif that carnal and gros iugement of the Capernaitis 1558-66 Knox II. 507.
A man of grosse iugement 1596 Dalr. I. 54/6.
We of a grosse maner haue sett doune the boundes of Scotland

4. As n. In grosse, in grossis: In a body, all together; in bulk, wholesale. a1500 Gol. & Gaw. 1168.
Heir ye ar gaderit in grosse, … vndir my gouernyng 1558 Edinb. B. Rec. III. 24.
Vnfremen that cumis … to vent and sell thair gluffis … nocht onlie in fuill grossis bot alssua in smallis