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).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

‡GAUD, n.¹, v.¹ Also gawd, †gaude, †gaad.

I. n. A trick, prank; “a bad custom or habit, of whatever kind. This word, although always used in a bad sense, does not necessarily imply the idea of cunning, as it has been generally explained. It is often thus expressed, an ill gaude” (n.Sc. 1808 Jam., gaud, gawd); “an ill habit, applied to horses and cattle” (Mry. 1813 W. Leslie Agric. Mry. 456). Also in n.Eng. dial.Mry. 1806 R. Jamieson Ballads I. 297:
Tam Tod was an ald-farran birkie, Weel versed i' the gawds o' the sex.

Hence gaudy, gaady, adj., of a horse: tricky, full of mischief (Lth. 1825 Jam., gaudy). Found in Eng. early 16th cent.n.Sc. 1714 R. Smith Poems 84–5:
. . . your Men they made good choise In buying such a Horse: . . . He's neither gaady, wood nor scar.

II. v. Of a horse: to play tricks, to caper (Ags.¹ 1939).Kcd. 1844 W. Jamie Muse of Mearns 60:
He never snored for want o' breath, Nor tryed to guad [sic] when in the graith.