Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†GAST, n.1, v. Also ghast.
I. n. A fright, gen. in phrs. to get a gast (Rxb. 1825 Jam., g(h)ast, ‡1923 Watson W.-B.), to put in a gast; a surprise (Sc. 1911 S.D.D. Add.).Sc. 1722 W. Hamilton Wallace xi. 288:
The Surprise put them in such a Ghast, That they were flying from all Quarters fast.Sc. 1732 in D. H. Fleming Six Saints (1901) II. 107:
In his sermon, [Peden] said that Ireland's trouble . . . would come in a moonlight night, that would put all Ireland in a gast.Per. 1766 A. Nicol Poems 3:
Their diff'rence puts me in a gast; To follow which I cannot tell.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xvi.:
Aw never got sic a gast's aw got the nicht.s.Sc. 1897 E. Hamilton Outlaws xiii.:
You gae me a proper gast, I can tell you.
Hence ghastfulness, terror, horror. Obs. in Eng. since 16th cent.Sc. 1846 Anon. Muckomachy 57:
Their hearts a' quaket, Wi' ghastfulness, shakin' and shiverin'!
II. v. To frighten.Abd. 1893 G. Macdonald Songs 55:
“God guide us!” he cried, wi' gastit rair, “Has he lien there ever sin' syne?”
