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.
Quotation dates: 1822, 1880-1950
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OWSE, v. Also ou(w)ze, ous(e), owes. tr. and intr. To scoop up water, to empty by baling, as a boat (Ork. 1825 Jam.; Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 169; Cai. 1907 County of Cai. (Horne) 80; Ork. 1929 Marw.; I.Sc., ‡Cai. 1964); to draw water in a pail (Sh. 1914); to pour or ladle out; of rain: to pour down in torrents (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)). Also fig. [ʌuz]Sh. 1822 S. Hibbert Descr. Shet. 512:
Strik da head oot o' da drink kig and ouse da boat.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 53:
They wur fairly ootmucht wi rowin' an' owsin.Sh. 1891 J. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 39:
As Güd, in His rich providince, Is owsin oot ta me?Sh. 1901 T. P. Ollason Mareel 81:
Da cook at da time wis owsin' da denner.Cai. 1903 E.D.D.:
To ouse o'er. To swish over.Sh. 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 142:
Whin I guid ta bed Girzzie wis still owsin up da mylk aff o' da flüer wi' a plaeter.Ork. 1949 “Lex” But-end Ballans 20:
I could hae demmelled i' de loch an' owsed as many [fish] oot.
Derivs. and combs.: 1. owser, a wooden scoop for baling a boat (Sh. 1938 M. Powell 200,000 Feet on Foula 311; I.Sc., ‡Cai. 1964); †2. ousmol, bilge-water (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)); 3. owse-room, ous(t)(er)rum, oost-, ust-, the space in the wale of a boat from which the bilge-water is baled out (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1964); the man who rows on the starboard side of a two-oared boat (Ork. 1929 Marw.); ‡4. owseskerri, ous(e)-, -skjerry, = 1. (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 169, 1908 Jak. (1928); I.Sc. 1964). Also fig. of a big, heavily-built person (Jak.). See also Auskerrie; 5. owster, ooster, the act of baling (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 169, 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1964); the water which has to be baled out (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.).3. Sh. 1898 Shetland News (17 Sept.):
He lint him apo' da shiv'l i' da owse room.Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 243:
He's lyin' afore da fiskafel i' da oost-room o da sixern.Sh. 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 89:
He gripped her bi da maeshie fettle oot o' da shot an' flang her i' da owse room.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Pull noo — owse-room, steady, back-ber.Sh. 1950 A. Halcrow Sait Fishermen 70:
Forward of the run was the owse-room, an important division of the boat. Here the flooring was higher, sheathing the keelson right across, so that the shovel might have a smooth sweep from one side to the other. This was the bailer's work shop . . . Armed with a capacious shovel or “ouskerri” — capable in deft hands of lifting two gallons at each scoop — the bailer had to keep the boat dry whatever befell.4. Sh. 1949 New Shetlander No. 19. 44:
He took hadd o' da owseskerri, an' began ta owse fir a' dat he wis wirt, but da water gained on him.5. Sh. 1898 Shetland News (25 June):
“Shüs no sae tight as I wid laek,” William said, as he heard da pilticks plashin i' da ooster.Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.:
I was idda owster.
