Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

‡GANSEL, n., v. Also gansell, gaunsel, †ganshel, †gansald. [′gɑnsəl]

I. n. Orig. used lit. = garlic sauce, esp. as a relish to goose.Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 30:
A good Goose, but she has an ill gansel. Spoken when one has done a good Turn, and by their after Behaviour spoil the Grace of it.

Early extended (esp. in proverbs) to denote any disagreeable accompaniment: 1. in speech: a severe rebuke, a scolding (Sc. 1710 T. Ruddiman Gl. to Douglas Aeneis, gansald; Ayr. 1811 W. Aiton Agric. Ayr. 692, gansell, Ayr.⁴ 1928, obsol.), insolent language, "sauce"; †2. in behaviour: "an ill-natured glour" (Per. 1825 Jam.); 3. in events: an unpleasant shock; †4. a sour, ill-natured person.1.Sc. 1808 Sc. Proverb in Jam.:
"It's a gude grace, but an ill gansell," spoken of those, who, having commended a person or thing, add some reflection or other that is a virtual retraction of all the praise previously bestowed.Ayr. 1861 A. M'Kay Lilts (1868) 170:
But gansel she gied to the ne'er-do-weel loon.Sc. 1909 Colville 136:
The "gansel" or insolent retort of the pert "smatchet" was sternly rebuked.3.Abd.⁶ 1910:
When any disaster came suddenly, one said "I got a sad gansel." Seldom heard now.Abd.⁸ 1917:
I got a gansel fan I took the vinegar bottle to ma heid in place o' the ale ane.4.Lnk. 1813 G. MacIndoe Wandering Muse 117:
Wi' furious fleg she pu'd the snib, An angry gansel, Stirr'd up the coal, . . .

II. v. To scold, upbraid, storm at (someone) (Kcb.⁴ 1900, gaunsel), "to bandy testy, severe language" (Sc. 1818 Sawers, gans(h)el); to make an impudent retort.Sc. 1895 H. Ochiltree Redburn x.:
But my auntie, with her taivers gansell'd ye oot o't.Mry. 1909 Colville 136:
Jist a gansellin creatur.Sc.(E) 1913 H.P. Cameron Imit. Christ i. iii.:
What maks it tae argie aboot maitters mirk an' drumlie, anent whilk we sanna be e'en gansel't i' the Lang Day.