Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1737, 1805, 1881-1938
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DOSE, n. Also doze. [doz Sc., but Rxb. du:z]
1. = Eng. dose, a portion (of medicine). The Sc. pronunciation is exemplified by the following quots.Sc. 1938 St Andrews Cit. (21 May) 4/2:
He treated his young brother to a liberal “doze” of cider.Abd. 1737 in Sc. N. and Q. (1894) 124:
To Dr Gaven Cocks, for his advice, and two dozes of salts for making the water operate.
2. Sc. usages.
(1) A large quantity or number. Gen.Sc. Also in Dev. dial. Dim. dosie.Abd. 1932 D. Campbell Bamboozled 6:
Cadge roon like the sooter's loonie; he collecks doses [of cigarette cards].Per. 1900 E.D.D.:
“I bought a dose o' yarn, when I was in Stirling” — meaning I bought a large quantity.Peb. 1805 J. Nicol Poems II. 61:
O' sleep he'll get a hearty dosie An' find his eild beath warm an' cosie.
(2) Term used by the boys of George Heriot's Hospital for their allowance of bread (Edb. 1910 in Scotsman (3 Sept.)).Edb. 1898 J. Baillie Walter Crighton 135:
A dose was literally a small loaf, the different portions being a round crockle or top crust, a flat crockle or bottom crust, and the cawrie the soft bread between.
(3) In phr. a dose of the cold, a cold. Gen.Sc.Sc. 1881 A. Mackie Scotticisms 33:
I never visit this place without getting a dose of the cold — without catching cold.
