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.
‡SPROSE, v., n. Also sproze; sprouse, sprowse (Gsw. 1859 Recent Sc. Poets (Murdoch) II. 200); ¶sprush. [spro:z]
I. v. 1. intr. To boast, brag, make a great show, swagger (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Lnk. 1971). Hence sprozer, sprouser, a braggart, swaggering fellow. Also in Eng. dial.Lnk. 1796 R. Lochore Foppish Taylor 4:
At fairs an' markets, aft he capert, And mang the lasses spros't and vapert.Gsw. 1817 W. Harriston Fortunate Ploughman 9:
Then a' his mind comes out, whate'er he thinks Is loudly utter'd when the sprozer drinks.Lnk. 1842 W. Watson Poems 28:
The sprosin' fool was aften floor't.Lnk. 1881 D. Thomson Musings 34:
But if folk print or sprouse an' blaw That they are what they're no ava'.
†2. tr. and refl. To brag about, to vaunt (oneself), to praise or flatter excessively.Fif., Ayr. 1825 Jam.:
To sprose one's self, to commend one's self ostentatiously, and at the expense of truth.Lnk. 1877 W. Watson Poems 203:
Some mystic magnetical pow'r Will draw kindred spirits about 'im to sprose 'im.
3. To exaggerate, tell a tall story in order to impress (Fif. 1825 Jam.; Ayr. 1928, sprush, Ayr. 1971).
II. n. 1. A bragging or boasting, vain ostentation, swagger, a “talking big,” bravado; flattering talk. Adj. sprosie, ostentatious in speech, boastful, vainglorious (Lth. 1825 Jam.). Also in Eng. dial.Ayr. 1790 A. Tait Poems 11:
Next fla him an' blaw him, An' tell him a curst sprose.Ayr. 1822 Galt Provost vii., xxii.:
I don't value them now a cutty-spoon; nor a' their sprose about Newgate and the pillory. . . . Others vied in their sprose of patriotism.
2. A frequently repeated anecdote or saying, a byword.Ayr. 1822 Galt Sir A. Wylie x.:
It's been a sprose amang us ever sin syne.
