Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

NEWS, n., v. Also newse; neus (Ork. 1907 Old-Lore Misc. I. ii. 62); noos (Ags. 1853 W. Blair Aberbrothock 10; Knr. 1886 H. Haliburton Horace 30); hence noospaper, newspaper (Ags. 1826 A. Balfour Highland Mary III. 8, 1853 W. Blair Aberbrothock 77, Ags. 1975). Also double pl. forms neusis (Sc. 1712 D. Warrand Culloden Papers (1925) II. 32), newses (Inv. 1865 J. Horne Poems 115; Abd. 1893 G. MacDonald Heather & Snow xii).  Sc. forms and usages. [Sc. nju:z; Ags. nu:z]

I. n., construed as a sing. Talk, conversation, a chat, a gossip (Sh., n. and em.Sc. (a) 1964). Comb. ¶news-gizzened, parched for want of news or gossip.Abd. 1868 G. Macdonald R. Falconer i. viii.:
She was not the person to sit down and have a news with.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxxiii.:
To the news-“gizzened” rustic a lounge about the merchant's shop door . . . is inexpressibly grateful.Mry. 1887 A. G. Wilken Peter Laing 14:
He willingly volunteered to have a “newse” about the days of yore.Ags. 1897 F. Mackenzie Sprays 49:
You an' me'll stap alang an' hae a news wi' the carlin.Abd. 1934 Abd. Univ. Rev. (March) 125:
Sir Colin an' me wiz 'at eydent at news 'at A never notic't ye.Cai. 1937 N. Gunn Highl. River xvii.:
Folk in that country never said they would “have a gossip”, they always said they would have “a news.”Abd. 1990 Stanley Robertson Fish-Hooses (1992) 60:
She liked me for gieing her a hand and we hid a rare news taegither. Abd. 1992 Press and Journal (10 Oct.)  4:
"I wis haein a news o' the postie twa days ago and he says Erchie sent a plum duff abroad three wikks ago." Abd. 1999 Herald (20 Sep.)  26:
But somewhere in between is Geordie Brown, a close neighbour of ours. Geordie used to come and help us at silage time and liked a "news" with my father.

Hence (1) newsfu', full of gossip; (2) newsie, -y, chatty, inclined to gossip, talkative, garrulous, talking a lot (Abd. 1825 Jam.; Cai. 1903 E.D.D.; ne.Sc., Ags., Per. 1964). Comb. newsy-like, in a chatty manner.(1) Ayr. 1812 A. Thom Amusements 35:
The sharpen'd sock Maun to the newsfu' smiddy gae.(2) Mry. 1868 W. Garden Meg's Wedding 5:
To crack sae canny wi' Meg's newsy mither.Abd. 1873 J. Ogg Willie Waly 14:
“Owre new”, said Willie, who was turning newsy, “On stuff like this may we get aften boozy.”Abd. 1923 R. L. Cassie Heid or Hert 40:
George grew keener an' newsier in coorse o' time.Kcd. 1934 L. G. Gibbon Grey Granite 23:
And she told to Feet, fair newsy-like, She'd had the place all decorated of late.

II. v. To talk, chat, gossip, hold a conversation (Abd. 1825 Jam., newse; Cai. 1903 E.D.D.; Sh., ne. and em.Sc. (a) 1964). Vbl.n. newsin, talking, gossiping (Bch. 1930 Abd. Univ. Rev. (March) 107). Also in Eng. dials.Cai. 1829 J. Hay Poems 42:
Two shepherd swains sat newsing on the green.Kcd. 1856 W. Jamie Jacobite's Son ii.:
The smith was . . . repairing plough-irons for the ploughmen, newsing to the worthies all the time.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxxvi.:
Ga'in was a “fine stock” with affluent . . . power of “newsin'.”Ags. 1889 Brechin Advertiser (12 March) 3:
He'll news awa' for an oor at a time.Sh. 1898 W. F. Clark Northern Gleams 93:
We set wis till an' news's awa.Crm. 1933 D. A. Mackenzie Stroopie Well 4:
When grannie bakes her oaten cakes, I aye drop in to news a whiley.Bnff. 1955 Banffshire Jnl. (11 Jan.):
“But the Black Wife wis waur,” said Granny ae nicht fin we got her in the bonn for newsin'.Per. 1979 Betsy Whyte The Yellow on the Broom 45:
They newsed and cracked, joked and played games, as they worked... Abd. 2000 Sheena Blackhall The Singing Bird 46:
The muckle beeches sooch an sweesh an swee.
Auld bodachs news aneth their reeshlin leaves;
Littlins toss breid tae spurgies neth the eaves:

Hence newser, one who is fond of chat, a conversationalist; of a young child learning to speak: good at talking (Sh., n.Sc. 1964).Abd. 1900 Wkly. Free Press (6 Oct.):
I'm a grand newser, an' country folk . . . dinna ken fat's goin' on.