Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1773-1830, 1914-1938, 1999
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GASH, adj.1 Ashen, of pale or ghastly appearance, grim, dismal. Now only liter. Also adv.Edb. a.1774 R. Fergusson Poems (1925) 86:
The day looks gash, toot aff your horn, Nor care yae strae about the morn.Sc. 1818 Scott Rob Roy xxv.:
Nay, never look gash or grim at me, man — if ye're angry, ye ken how to turn the buckle o' your belt behind you.Ayr. 1826 Galt Last of the Lairds iii.:
"Plunkcorkie," said he, "I'm thinking Auldbiggings is looking unco gash." "Gash!" quo Plunkcorkie, "nae wonder, he's been dead this half hour."Sc. 1830 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) II. 347:
"But what's the matter wi' Mr North? Saw ye ever the cretur lookin sae gash? I wish he mayna be in a fit o' apoplexy". . . . "His countenance is, indeed, ominously sable."Arg. 1914 N. Munro New Road xx.:
You're looking gash! A body would think to look at you the North was up.Abd. 1924 Swatches o' Hamespun 66:
"Foo leuk ye sae gash?" "Weel, Aw am some squeemish."m.Sc. 1934 J. Buchan Free Fishers x.:
He had gotten a clour on the heid, and lookit a wee thing gash.Dmf. 1938 Chambers's Jnl. (Nov.) 840:
Whaur the rocks toss high to the gurly sky Ower an auld too'er gash an' grey.em.Sc. 1999 James Robertson The Day O Judgement 9:
Syne will each stoundit sairie sowel
Tae its ain gash corp mak mane an say:
"Hech me! Whit for hae ye revived
Tae bring on baith o us sic wae? .. "
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"Gash adj.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/gash_adj1>
