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.
GUSEL, n., v. Also g(o)us(se)l, gus(s)l; gosel (Jak.), goz(e)l; gowsel, guzzel, -le, gushel. [Sh. ′gusəl, ′guz-, ′gʌus-; Ork. ′gɔusl, ′gʌʃəl]
I. n. A strong, drying wind, a squally or gusty wind (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., guzzle, 1914 Angus Gl., guzzel; Ork. 1929 Marw., gushel; Sh. 1955). Also dim. gussly (Ork. 1930 Orcadian (13 Feb.)).Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 155:
Janawiry, begins wi' a gowsel o' norderly wind an' sna, if da wind geng nort.
Hence gously, adj., blustery (of weather), fig. blustering (of people) (Ork. 1929 Marw.).
‡II. v. 1. Of the wind: to blow gently (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).
2. To dry in the wind, esp. of fish (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.), mostly as ppl.adj., guseld fish (Jak.; Sh. 1955).
[A freq. form from * gus-, Norw. dial. gus, a stream of vapour, gosa, a breeze, a puff or blast of wind, gusa, to blow gently, Mod. Icel. gosa, to blow, puff.]
