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: 1809-1814, 1900
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MU, n.1, v. Also mua-, moo(r)-, mø(a)-. [mu:, mø:]
I. n. A wasting disease of sheep, caused by liver-fluke, sheep-rot (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)). Gen. in combs. he(a)rt-mu, -mø, id. (Ib.). See Hert, I. A. 2. Hence hertmød, affected with this disease; mu(a)sickness, møa-, ¶moor-, id. (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl.).Sh. 1809 A. Edmonston Zetland II. 224:
The Mua sickness, or rot, is also one of the diseases with which the Zetland sheep are affected.Sh. 1814 J. Shirreff Agric. Sh. 66:
A pining or wasting, provincially called the moor-sickness, affects sheep, chiefly in autumn.Sh. 1900 Shetland News (3 March):
"Shü'll be hertmöd, mebbie?" "Na, dat hit's no. Sheep 'at gengs til a ebb niver get hertmö."
II. v. 1. Of sheep, to waste away with the rot (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)). Ppl.adj. mød, used subst. = an ailing or diseased sheep (Sh. 1963).
2. Transf.: to crave, to feel hungry (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., moo).
[Appar. from Norw. dial. mø(d)a, to weary, exhaust, weariness, O.N. mœða, to weary, distress. The u forms have lost their mutation.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Mu n.1, v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/mu_n1_v>
