Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1794-1897
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†LOSEL, n. Also lossel. A scamp, rascal, scoundrel, a worthless good-for-nothing person, a loafer. Also used attrib. Mostly in liter. usage. Now only arch. or dial. in Eng. [lo:zl]Sc. 1794 J. Ritson Sc. Songs II. 137:
If we shold hang any losel heere, The first we wold begin with thee.Ayr. 1823 Galt R. Gilhaize I. xxii.:
My grandfather, putting on the look of a losel and roister.Abd. 1867 W. Anderson Rhymes 184:
Crowds o' grave or losel wichts Wad come to hear him preach.Ayr. 1892 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 299:
Where lossels swagger out the night, And wantons fill the ring.Fif. 1897 L. Keith Bonny Lady viii.:
The school-master knew it was no village losel hired by the hour.
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"Losel n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/losel>
