Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
HORSO, n.1 A sizeable horse, a big horse, in contradistinction to horsie, the diminutive. Cf. Manno.ne.Sc. 1792 Trans. Soc. Antiq. Scot. 418:
It is not many years ago, since I heard a farmer's wife laughing heartily at her neighbour, for calling a horse of middle size a horsie! “He is more like a horso” said she.
