Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

GLOSS, n.², v. Sc. usages. [glɔs]

I. n. “A light sleep, a doze, fitful slumber” (Ork. 1929 Marw.), a “wink”. Gen. in phr. a gloss o' sleep (Abd.²⁷ 1954).Abd.¹⁴ c.1915:
I hinna gotten a gloss o' sleep a' nicht.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
He was just in a gloss o' sleep.

II. v. 1. To slumber lightly, doze, be half-asleep (Ork. 1929 Marw.; Bnff., Abd. 1954).Abd.⁷ 1925:
He was glossin owre, glossin to sleep.

2. With ower: to skim through in reading, to read cursorily (Abd.²⁷, Ags.¹⁹ 1954).