A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Gawf(e, Gaff, n. [Imitative.] A guffaw. — c1500-c1512 Dunb. lxxv. 22 (B).
To hie [M. Tehe!], quod scho, and gaif ane gawf [M. gawfe] 1558-66 Knox II. 67.
Quhen sche perceivit the overthraw of us, … sche gaif ane gawfe of lauchter Ib. 404.
Sche first smyleit, and efter gaif ane gawf lauchter 1685 Sinclair Satan's Invis. World 48.
The devil gave a great gaff of laughter
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"Gawf n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/gawfe>
