Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1893-1932, 1988
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GOWST, v., n. Also gust. Sc. form and usages of Eng. gust. [gʌust, gʌst]
‡I. v. To scold roughly, to speak loudly and angrily (Gall. 1827 Curriehill, 1905 E.D.D. Suppl.); to speak boastfully, to bluster (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 239; Kcb.4 1900; Dmf. 1955), to storm, rage.Sc.(E) 1932 R. L. Cassie Sc. Sangs 33:
I'm owre Scots tae fraise wi' Gaul, Their notions gar me gowst.
II. n. 1. As in Eng., a blast of wind (Per., Kcb. 1955).Sc. 1893 Stevenson Catriona xv.:
There cam a gowst of wind, claught her by the coats, and awa' wi' her.Ags. 1988 Raymond Vettese The Richt Noise 81:
Mither on the green
hingin sarks on the line
an' suddenly in a gowst
as the bricht dreeps faa
twa thin airms o claith
wrap her in a weet embrace
and she's lauchin.
‡2. An angry shout (Sh.10 1955).Kcb.6 c.1916:
Then he wud gie a gowst at puir Jock.
†3. "A loud-voiced blustering fellow" (Id.); a flighty, talkative person, a "blow."Gall. 1900 E.D.D.:
"She's naething but a gust," i.e. is a gust of wind — spoken very contemptuously.
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"Gowst v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/gowst>
