Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1768-1952
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OU, int., v. Also ow, owe, oo. [u:, ɔu, ʌu]
I. int. Sc. forms of Eng. oh, ooh, gen. indicating some degree of surprise (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Sh., Abd., Ags. 1964) or occas. vexation, alas!Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 85:
He was hardly master o' himsell; Yet says: "Come ben — ow, Bydby, is that ye?"Slk. 1801 Hogg Poems (1874) 461:
Oo, na, na, sir, it was never printed i' the world.Sc. 1815 Scott Guy M. xi.:
Ou, sir, the bairn aye held an unca wark wi' the Supervisor.wm.Sc. 1835 Laird of Logan 46:
"Hoo are ye the day?" "Brawley, ou brawley."Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xxx.:
Ou, it's maybe no a flech ava . . . it's maybe a clipsheer.Ags. 1866 R. Leighton Poems (1869) 322:
Ow, ow, Guidwife, to think ye've been Sae lang aboot the hoose.Kcd. 1880 W. B. Fraser Laurencekirk 376:
Ow, than, I doubt there's nae remeid.Ags. 1899 Barrie W. in Thrums ii.:
Ou, it'll be Lawyer Ogilvy's servant lassieky.Abd. 1920 M. Argo Makkin o' John 6:
Ou, settin' for a rael fair crappie.Abd. 1952 Buchan Observer (11 March):
"A quick thowe," said the old saw, "ne'er gart ocht o's think owe."
Combs.: 1. ou ay(e), oowa, o-wye, ow-wi; oo wy (Ags. 1853 W. Blair Aberbrothock 8), oh yes, yes, indeed, that's so (m.Lth. 1858 Dark Night 234, ow-wi; Dmf. 1899 Country Schoolmaster (Wallace) 331), sometimes "expressive of some degree of impatience or dissatisfaction" (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Ayr.1 1910). See also Ay, int., 6. Gen.Sc.; 2. ou yea, really?, is that so? (‡Bnff., Abd. 1964). See also Yea.1. Sc. 1826 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 109:
"May I review it?" "Ou ay."Lnk. 1887 A. Wardrop Mid-Cauther Fair 202:
"What New World?" "America". "Oowa."Slk. 1899 C. M. Thomson Drummeldale 1:
"Will Grannie be expeckin' iz?" "O-wye, Ise warran' will she."Edb. 1901 E. H. Strain Elmslie's Drag-Net 9:
The red — an' — white colour, ow, ay, I had it.2. Abd. 1832 Aberdeen Mag. (May) 254:
"Oh, Sir, weel div I like when ye preach." "Ou yea, my wifie," replied the astonished preacher; "I wat ye're nae like mony ane."Ags. 1896 A. Blair Rantin Robin 20:
Ow, yea, woman, an' what micht ye be expectin in't?
II. v. To make this interjection, to ejaculate.Lnk. 1805 G. McIndoe Poems 145:
John oo'd and nicher'd like a stallion.
