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.
Quotation dates: 1827-1834
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FOGO, prop. n. In phr. to be the cooper o' Fogo, see quot. and cf. also Cooper o' Stobo, and quot. s.v. Faither, n., 2. (1).Bwk. 1827 R. Chambers Picture of Scotland I. 39:
Fogo used to be distinguished for the excellence of its cooper, or rather for the progressive improvement and increasing dexterity of a long race of coopers; every successive member of which displaying greater skill than his father, gave occasion to the proverbial saying, "Ye're just the cooper o' Fogo'" meaning that you are a better man than your father.s.Sc. 1834 Hogg Domest. Manners Sir W. Scott (1909) 87:
I was afraid he would never be the Cooper of Fogo, for he seemed to be blest with a very thick head.
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"Fogo prop. n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/fogo>
