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.
O, n.2. Also aw.
1. Anything shaped like the letter O, in specif. applications: (1) the looped brass fitting fixed on the bottom rail of a window sash for raising it, a sash-lift (Per., wm.Sc. 1952); (2) comb. O plate, in mining: a cast-iron plate with a circular ridge on which coal-hutches are turned at the junctions of rail-tracks (Sc. 1886 J. Barrowman Mining Terms 48); (3) a round window. Phr. the Round O, a nickname for the town of Arbroath in Angus, from the circular opening of the ruined rose-window in its Abbey, the most conspicuous building in the town. See also 2.(1) Rnf. 1856 MS. per wm.Sc.1:
All the window openings . . . to have sashes and facings, etc. and completed with aws and fasteners.(3) Gsw. 1719 Burgh Rec. Gsw. (1909) 60:
Twenty foot cemented glass to the O's in the sclaits at four shilling six pence per foot.Ags. 1876 G. Hay Hist. Arbroath 36:
The round window, which is twelve feet in diameter, gives to the town one of the names by which it is known among its townsmen — “The Round O.” This Round O is a St Catherine wheel.
2. A cipher, nothing, used fig. of a person in phr. a roun(d) O, a silly, ignorant or useless person, a nonentity (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.). Gen.Sc.Gsw. 1947 H. W. Pryde First Bk. of McFlannels vii.:
Matt's nothing but a round O.Abd. 1959:
As far as dealin amon nowt's concerned, he's jist a roun O.
