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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

GASH, n.², v.¹

I. n. “A projection of the under jaw” (Sc. 1808 Jam.), the chin. Obs. exc. in combs.Mry. 1828 “J. Ruddiman” Tales (1889) 35:
Meg Macglashan . . . let fly at me a great handfu' o' glar, which . . . gave me sic a skelp on the gash, that almost dumfoundered me.

Hence †1. gash-beard, a person with a long, protruding chin; 2. gash-gabbit, -et, (1) having a protruding under-jaw (Ayr. 1811 W. Aiton Agric. Ayr., Gl.; Ags. 1825 Jam.; Ags.¹⁸, Lnk. 1954); see also Ramsay quot. to 1.; (2) having a sagging, misshapen mouth (Abd., Mearns 1825 Jam.; Ags.¹⁸ 1953); 3. gash-mou, the long rough dab, Hippoglossoides platessoides (Fif. 1954); 4. gash-moo'ed, = 2. (2) (Bnff.⁷ 1927; Bnff., Abd., Fif. 1954).1. Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. Gl.:
One with a long out Chin, we call Gash Gabbet, or Gash Beard.2. (1) Per. 1933 N. B. Morrison Gowk Storm 43:
Nannie was wont to say that “gash-gabbit” children were usually forward and “quick on the uptak'.”(2) Abd. 1813 D. Anderson Poems 125:
A' teethless and gash-gabbit, The hags that night.4. Fif. 1894 J. Menzies Our Town xx.:
Archie . . . had aye the bonniest smile. The schulemaster was gashmoo'ed.

†II. v. 1. To thrust forward the under-jaw (Sc. 1808 Jam.). Ppl.adj. gashin', “having the chin projecting; always used when there is the idea of pertness and loquacity” (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 59).

2. “To distort the mouth in contempt” (Sc. 1808 Jam.).Bch. 1832 W. Scott Poems 75:
He thinks we're fear'd, we darna touch him now, See fu' he gashes we his rabbit's mou.

3. To gnash, show (the teeth), to snap (with the jaws).Abd. 1801 W. Beattie Parings 19:
Ye needno' dout, but Mrs Suckie Will crook her mu' like ony buckie, And gash her teeth.Ags. 1866 R. Leighton Poems (1869) 307:
She gash'd at him her girnin' jaws.Abd. 1881 W. Paul Past & Present (2nd ed.) 58:
Tammas, pit oot that dog there that's lying in the pass, he's like to gar me lauch, gashin' an' gnappin' . . . at the fleas.