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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

OUTGANG, n., v. Also oot-; -ging, utgeng Sh.). See Gang, v., n. [′utgɑŋ; Sh. -gjiŋ]

I. n. 1. An outgoing, departure (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)); the end, of a season, year, etc. (Ib.); the giving up of and removal from a tenancy (Sc. 1887 Jam.); what goes out, what is uttered or divulged in conversation.Ags. 1853 W. Blair Aberbrothock 77:
I'm no gain to fike ony mair aboot the inlats an' ootgings o' thae nasty, insignificant skraes 'at canna keep the clap o' their hass steekit.Ork. 1904 Dennison Sketches 9:
Hid was ae day i' the oot gang o' Vore.em.Sc. 1999 James Robertson The Day O Judgement 7:
Dozent in sinnin sleep they dream,
Their heids ram-fou wi wealth an vice;
Nae thocht that at the warld's ootgang
They'll be debarred frae Paradise.

2. An outlet, way out (Gall. 1890 Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. 58; Sh., Abd., Ags., Lth. 1964), a means of getting out or escaping; a right of way (Sh. 1964). Obs. in Eng. from early 17th c.Abd. 1865 G. Macdonald Alec Forbes lxiv.:
Gin the watter be i' the hoose, there's no ootgang. Lie still.Sc. 1887 Jam.:
Every tenant man hae ische and entry, outgang and ingang, to his haudin.Abd. 1910 D. G. Mitchell Sermons 141:
Is there tae be nae ither oot-gang?

3. A pasture to which cattle are driven out, where they can roam at large (Kcb. 1900; Uls. 1924 W. Lutton Montiaghisms 30; Wgt. 1964). Cf. Gang, n., 3.Sc. 1829 G. Robertson Recollections 27:
Considerable parcels of land . . . were used merely as an out-gang to the yell cattle.Ags. 1883 Brechin Advert. (31 July) 3:
There was nae want o' ootgang for the kye.

4. Expense, outlay of money (Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 260; Sh., ne.Sc., Fif., Lnk. 1964).Ags. 1872 J. Kennedy Jock Craufurt 19:
[He] kept his ootgang juist as sma' As e'er it could be kept ava.

5. An excess or margin of weight over the stipulated amount. Cf. Outcome, I. 3.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb vi.:
She expeckit there wud be some ootgang o' the butter forbye't ye sud say't it's scrimp wecht.

II. v. To go out, issue forth. Rare. Vbl.n. outganging (wm.Sc. 1854 Laird of Logan 306; Gall. 1890 Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. 58).Sc. 1823 M. & M. Corbett Petticoat Tales I. 208:
Is Peggy no come back? . . . I dinna like outgangings at night.Rnf. 1876 D. Gilmour Paisley Weavers 61:
Only His ootgangin' is regulate by the capacities o' them wha haena the licht o' the Gospel.