Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1929-1956
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COSE, COSS, Coze, Coz, Koz(e), v. Also kos (Ork. 1975). To exchange, barter (Sc. 1785 F. Grose Classical Dict. of Vulgar Tongue (1788), cose s.v. horse coser; Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., koz; 1914 Angus Gl., koze; Ork. 1920 J. Firth Reminisc. Ork. Par. (1922) 150, coze; Lth., Bwk. 1825 Jam.2, coss). Cf. Cozain. [ko:z, kɔs]Sh. 1956 New Shetlander No. 43. 21:
A hesp, or heid of, say white wirsit is kosd for a treed o grey or faa'n.Ork. 1929 J. T. S. Leask in Old-Lore Misc., Ork., Sh., etc. IX. ii. 77:
Sheu waas whirmed awa at aince, back till da Bad Piece whar sheu lay fill anither feul, 'at waas willin tae coz 'is sowl, speired for 'er.Ork.1 1930:
I'll cose hoes wi thee.
†Phrase: coss a doe, used by children: “exchange a piece of bread, as a bit of oatmeal cake for wheaten bread” (Lth. 1808 Jam. s.v. cose).
[O.Sc. cose, coss, koss, to exchange, from 1443 (D.O.S.T.); in E.M.E. as coase. Origin uncertain. Related to Eng. dial. corse, course and scorse, scoss, scoase, id. (see N.E.D. and E.D.D.).]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Cose v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 7 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/cose>
