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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HUSHOCH, n., v. Also huss-, hoosh-, hash-; -ock, -ick; derivs. -loch, -lich, -lach, and erron. hulsach.

I. n. 1. A confused heap, a tangled mass, a loose quantity of anything (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 278, hushock, 255, hashloch; w., s.Sc. 1887 Jam., hush(l)och; Bch. 1924 Scots Mag. (Oct.) 55, hooshlich; Abd., Fif. 1957).Abd.¹ 1929:
There's the hushlach's o' raikin's tae cairt inbye yet.

2. A big, fat person (Abd. 1957, husuoch, -ick).

3. Hurried, careless or slovenly work (w., s.Sc. 1887 Jam.); a person who works in a slovenly manner, a careless housewife (Ib.; Bch. 1942, husslach). Also used adj. = untidy (Cai. 1919 T.S.D.C. III., hulsach; Abd. 1920), and in derivs. hush(l)ochy, adv., in a hurried, careless or slovenly manner (w., s.Sc. 1887 Jam.), adj., hurried, careless, slovenly (Ib.).Nai.² 1925:
What a hooshlach place!

II. v. To work, handle, or dress in a hurried, careless or slovenly manner (w., s.Sc. 1887 Jam.).Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 78:
The millers did hushoch their melders in sacks.