Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

SLOOSH, n., v. Also sluich, sluish (Abd. 1940 C. Gavin Hostile Shore vi.); sloos, slus. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. sluice (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.; Mry. 1883 F. Sutherland Sunny Memories 148; Uls. 1953 Traynor s.v. sluice). Gen.Sc. See S, letter, 6. (3). [sluʃ]

I. n. 1. As in Eng. in comb. sluich-board, a sluice-gate, flood-gate.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 282:
By lifting the sluich-board when any emergency appeared, it flowed down to the meikle wheel.Ags. 1962 Dundee Courier (17 Nov.) 6:
One man might “shut the sloosh” to conserve the flow.

2. A dash of water, a splashing (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., sloos, 1914 Angus Gl., slus). Gen.Sc.; “the flow of water from a sluice” (Cld. 1880 Jam., sloos).Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
Of a small wave splashing into a boat; “he cam' wi' a slus.”Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick vii.:
The Earl an' Tammas steed harkenin tae the sloosh o' the oars as 'e rowt awa.

II. v. To splash or swill with water, to throw water about in large splashes, to flush. Gen.Sc.