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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

†CUSHLE-MUSHLE, Cushel Mushel, n. and v. comb.

1. n. A low whispering (esp. of gossip).Abd. c.1746 W. Forbes Dominie Deposed (n.d.) 36:
The cushle-mushle thus went roun: “Our bonny clerk, He'll get the dud and sacken goun, That ugly sark.”Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore 93:
An' eathing [ae thing] some and some anither said, . . . But a' their cushel mushel was but jest, Unto the coal that brunt in Lindy's breast.Fif. 1998 Tom Hubbard Isolde's Luve-Daith 3:
Sair guidit bi a cushle-mushle o scowks,
A sleekit core o foongers an come-ups.

2. v. To mutter.w.Sc. 1866 R. W. Buchanan London Poems 226:
Why, had she been a bickering hizzie, fill'd With fire and temper, stubborn as a whin, And cushlingmushling o'er a cheerless fire, Dan might have brought her round.