Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
HOUSTER, v., n. Also howster, hu(i)ster, hooster. [′h(ʌ)ustər, ′høstər]
I. v. To gather together in a confused fashion (Fif. 1825 Jam., Fif. 1957), to hustle together. Hence ppl.adj. huistrin, bustling about in a confused manner, slovenly (Ib.).Dmf. 1731 Gentleman's Mag. 123:
If any Hustrin Custrin, . . . shall bread any Urdam Durdam.Knr. 1957:
“To get howstered in ower the bed” — to scramble into bed.
II. n. 1. A badly-dressed, untidy person (Fif. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1942 Zai, huister); one who hoards up rubbish or things of little value (Kcb.4 1900, hooster).Rxb. 1825 Jam.:
An auld huister o' a quean, an old and dirty housewife; supposed to include the idea of lasciviousness.
2. Trash, rubbish; gen. in deriv. forms houst(e)rie, howstrie (Fif. 1825 Jam.); huistrie (Sc. 1911 S.D.D. Add.).Fif. 1841 C. Gray Lays 218:
Cast coat and hat, and ither houstrie, And ding Brownhills and neibour Troustrie.Fif. 1887 S. Tytler Logie Town II. xvii.:
Lizzie, what are you thinking of to bring out that howster?
3. “Soft, bad, nasty food; gen. a mixture of different sorts of meat” (Rxb. 1825 Jam., houstrie, howstrie).
[Etym. obscure. Phs. orig. an alternative form in -er to Eng. hustle.]
