Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
WHASSACO, adv., conj., n. Also whasacco, whassico, -igo. [′ʍɑsəko, -go]
I. adv. Ostensibly, with a pretext, followed by the inf. with to. Also used as a conj., as if, on the pretence that (Ork. 1974).Ork. 1894 W. R. Mackintosh Peat-fires 156:
Going to the Hillside “whassico”, or ostensibly, to see a bit of land that was being enclosed at Farafield.Ork. 1907 Old-Lore Misc. I. ii. 61:
Looted doon — whasacco he waas leukan for so'nting.Ork. 1929 Old-Lore Misc. IX. ii. 79:
Tae tame or mak' feuls o' da lasses, whassaco tae had dem i' boona.
II. n. A pretence, insincere talk or action, a parade of excitement or emotion not deeply felt (Ork. 1929 Marw., Ork. 1974), also in reduplic. forms wheesie-whassico, wheesy-whassigo, id. (Id., 1936 Daily Express (7 Nov.)).Ork. 1915 Old-Lore Misc. VIII. i. 40:
He waas ceevelity idsel, makan a whassaco at 'e waas blide tae see dem.Ork. 1931 in Orcadian (7 May):
'E gaed ap tae da horse wi' a snicker an' made a whasacco o' whissin i' deir lugs.
