Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1893
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COWSY, COWSIE, COUSIE, n. "A selfacting incline" (Sc. 1886 J. Barrowman Sc. Mining Terms 21, cousie; Fif. 1913 Session Cases 85), "on which one or more full descending hutches pull up a corresponding number of empties" (Edb.6 1943, cowsie). Often used attrib., esp. cousie-wheel, "the drum or pulley on a self-acting incline" (Ib.). [′kʌuzi, ′kʌusi]Lnk. 1893 T. Stewart Miners 77:
An' sune oor hero wore a croon, A dizen doozis bleesin' roun' His leather cap, an' birlin' doon The cowsy brae we trot him.Lnk. 1893 T. Stewart Miners iv.:
We . . . took out whatever quantity of coals we dug in half-ton waggons, called hutches or "whirlies," to the cowsy wheel, which ran them the rest of the way to the bottom.
