Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1819-1898
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]
GO, n.2 1. A fuss, pother, to-do; a state of anxiety, distress, excitement, esp. in phr. in a go (Bnff., Cld. 1880 Jam.; Cai. 1900 E.D.D.; I., n. and em.Sc.(a) 1954).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 68:
She wiz in an unco go at hir sin's wa-gaan. The hail queentry side wis in a great go fin it wiz kent the auld minister's sin wiz t' get the kirk.Abd. 1890 Bon-Accord (4 Jan.) 20:
Kirsty wis in a terrible go, though, an' swore she wad leave the hoose.em.Sc. 1898 H. Rogers Meggotsbrae 7:
We micht hae come on no sae bad . . . if it hadna been for the go wi' her next.
2. In phrs. (1) go o' the year, “the latter part of it, when the day becomes very short” (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin viii.); (2) upon go, of persons: restlessly active, fussy; of things: much in use (Abd. 1825 Jam.; Sh.10, Abd.27 1954).(1) Kcd. 1819 J. Burness Plays, etc. 25:
It was a clear moon-light night i' the go o' the year.Ags. 1853 W. Blair Chron. Aberbrothock 30:
It was aboot the go o' the year that she was laid doon on her sickbed.
3. Go-between, n., a between-maid (Abd.27 1922; Ags.19 1954), “a servant who does part of the work of a housemaid and part of that of a cook” (Sc. 1888 N. & Q. (Ser. 7) VII. 37).
[Extended meanings of Eng. go, ‡going, colloq.: dash, the “rage”, on the go, restlessly active.]
