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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

OANSHACH, n. Also oashach. A foolish person, an idiot (Abd., Arg. 1964).Mry. 1950 Bulletin (11 April):
We used to call folk like that [tramps] feel oashachs.

[Gael. oinnseach, an idiot, orig. applied to a female. Cf. Uls. oashin, a weakling, < oinsin, dim. of Ir. oinseach, a (female) fool.]

19642

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