Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FRUSH, v.², n.² Also †frusch. [frʌʃ]

I. v. To hiss, to make a sputtering sound, to spurt (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., frusch, 1914 Angus Gl.; Sh.¹⁰ 1953); to spit, as a cat (Id.); to blow kail seed from the mouth when sowing it inside a plantie-cruive (Sh. 1975); of curdled milk being warmed for churning: to froth, come up in little bubbles (Ib.).Sh. 1906 T. P. Ollason Spindrift 105:
The fragrant infusion had been frushin' and bubblin' through stroop and lid for more than twenty minutes.Sh. 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 133:
Hit wis dark an' dey wir a frushin', an' a klatterin, an' a birrin'.Sh. 1932 J. M. E. Saxby Trad. Lore 204:
A cat frushes when she “spits curses.”

II. n. A frothy jet, a hiss, squirt, splutter (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.: Sh.¹⁰ 1953); fig. a sudden outburst of anger (Sh.¹¹ 1953).Sh. 1952 J. Hunter Taen wi da Trow 101:
Next dere comes a heavy spulder, An a frush aboot da tirl.Sh. 1994 Christine De Luca Voes & Sounds (1995) 2:
An dan we'd see dem ... Plooin da voe wi a frush o froad an maas divin.