Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1893-1897
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FOOSH, n. Any light, fluffy, powdery substance, esp. dust or soot particles (Abd.8 1917, rare; Ags.19 1952). Ags. 1893 “F. Mackenzie” Cruisie Sk. iii.:
In the low and dingy building [weaving shop], with its abundance of smoky foosh hanging from the rafters.Ags. 1893 “F. Mackenzie” Cruisie Sk. xiv.:
The maidens, bare-headed, with tartan shawls over their shoulders and their hair besprinkled with foosh, mingled with the quarriers all red with stains from the sandstone among which they worked.
Hence adj. fooshie, dusty, sooty, fluffy. Ags. 1897 F. Mackenzie Northern Pine 272:
Gin ye'll no objec' to my fooshie waistcoat, I'll gie ye a convoy as far as the Craw's.
