Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1816-1909
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SHOO, int., n. Also shu(e), schue (Sc. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 106), shew (Sc. 1761 Magopico (1836) 31); sheugh, sheuch (Fif. 1896 G. Setoun R. Urquhart xx.); sho (Ayr. 1870 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes 82). [ʃu:]
I. int. As in Eng., a sound to scare away birds or other animals; in Sc. also to reject abruptly another's statement or suggestion, pooh!, pshaw!, nonsense! Also in Eng. dial. Comb. shue-gled(s)-wylie, a children's game (see quot.).Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality xvii.:
Sheugh, sheugh — awa with ve, that hae spilled sae muckle blude, and now wad save your ain.Fif., Rxb. 1825 Jam.:
Shue-gled-wylie, a game in which the strongest acts as the gled or kite, and the next in strength as the mother of a brood of birds; for those under her protection, perhaps to the number of a dozen, keep all in a string behind her, each holding by the tail of another. The gled still tries to catch the last of them; while the mother cries Shue, shue, spreading out her arms to ward him off. If he catch all the birds, he gains the game, Fife. In Teviotdale, Shoo-gled's-wylie.Sc. 1843 Anon. Willie Armstrong ii. iv.:
"Raala, I'm no faen o' this ploy." "Shu, shu, man — we'll hae rare fun."Ags. 1892 A. Reid Howetoon 70:
Shoo! afore I could even think Jock Robison, she cam' owre my heid wi' the besom.Hdg. 1896 J. Lumsden Battles 181:
Shoo! fine countrie!
II. n. A burst of derisive laughter or mockery.Ork. 1909 Old-Lore Misc. II. iii. 132:
They would trip up his heels and then set up "a shoo o' lauchin' at him."
