Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

OUF, n., v., adj. Also oof(f); oafe; woof; yoof-, youf-. Dims. (y)oofet, youfat. Sc. forms of obs. Eng. ouph, an elf. [uf]

I. n. As in Eng.; a puny, insignificant creature, a pert urchin (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., (y)oofet). Also attrib. Adj. oufant, elfin.Ayr. 1821 Scots Mag. (April) 351:
Lang-nebbit gallehooings, an' youfat bravooras.Sc. 1937 Oor Mither Tongue (MacWhannell) 276:
Fower oufant wivies stude, Ane at ilka poster.

2. An imbecile creature; an animal with a very hairy face; a weak, harmless person, a stupid fool (Fif. 1825 Jam.; Bnff. 1964). Hence oof-looking, having an appearance of stupidity (Ib.).Bch. 1832 W. Scott Poems 5:
An' this an' that, an' farefor set ye aff; Fare's that woof, to gae an' meat the kye?

II. v. To move about in a stupid, senseless manner (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 228). Also with aboot.

†III. adj. “Decrepit, worn down with disease” (Ayr. 1825 Jam., oafe).