Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
STRUSH, n., v. Also stroosh and freq., esp. in em.Sc.(b) and s.Sc., in dim. forms stru(i)shie, strowshie, strooshie, stroosie, stroussie (Rxb. 1825 Jam., 1923 Watson W.-B.). [′strʌʃ(i), ′struʃ(i)]
I. n. 1. A disturbance, tumult, squabble, quarrel (Rxb. 1825 Jam.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 185; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., 1942 Zai; Sh., Bnff. 1971); a commotion, hurly-burly, a throng or press of an excited crowd of people, a bustle, stir (Id.; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; em.Sc.(b), Lnk., s.Sc. 1971); a state of disorder, confusion, or excitement (Cai. 1971); a romp. Phr. to have a stroosh on, to rush about in an awkward or excited manner (Cai. 1971).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 185:
Ye niver saw sic a strush is the hail fairm's in.Ags. 1895 Caledonia I. 433:
Fouk joggit alang bran canny-wyse, an' maybe cam' as near the mark as they dae yet for a' the strushie they mak'.Abd. 1906 Banffshire Jnl. (10 July) 10:
[They] roasted taties 'mang the drush And took a hamely fireside strush.Rxb. 1916 Kelso Chronicle (14 April) 2:
What a strush and a hurry and a squealing!Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 24:
A lichtsome strooshie . . . whan the mills war skailin.Cai. 1928:
He wis in a sair stroosh.s.Sc. 1947 L. Derwent Clashmaclavers 92:
A' the steer an' strushie past.
2. A bustling, swaggering gait (Cai. 1969 Cai. Courier (8 Jan.) 3, Cai. 1971).Cai. 1961 “Castlegreen” Tatties an' Herreen' 32:
Chist look at 'e stroosh o' 'e craiter.
¶3. A heavy blow on anything soft and yielding, a thump (Cai. 1904 E.D.D.).
II. v. 1. (1) To walk with a bustling or energetic gait, to strut, swagger (Cai. 1920–71). Vbl.n. strooshin, ppl.adj. strooshin, swaggering, strapping, of a person, deriv. stroosher, a big stalwart fellow (Cai. 1971).Cai. 1963 Edb. John o' Groat Liter Soc. Mag. 9:
So off he strooshes til 'e bar.
(2) To go about in a dirty, unbecoming manner (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 185).
2. In vbl.n. strushin, strushan, a disturbance, uproar, to-do (Rxb. 1825 Jam., 1923 Watson W.-B., Rxb. 1971).Rxb. a.1860 J. Younger Autobiog. (1881) 35:
We never ken how we're likeit by our neighbours till some bit strushin' like this takes place.
