Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

LOSH, n., int. Also lush and extended forms loshes, -en, los(h)(t)ie, -ins, losh(t)ie-gosh(t)ie, losh(-gosh)-a-da(is)y and in phrs. losh a, loshie or loshes me, losh bless me, -candy me, -keep me, etc., loshifycairyme, Losh have a care o me. Deformations of Lord, used in exclamations, gen. of surprise, wonder, dismay or expostulation (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Gsw. 1899 Mont.-Fleming 90, losh-gosh-a-daisy). Gen.Sc. In Bwk. the form losh-a-daisy is popularly said to be common among St. Abbs fishermen who are hence nicknamed Loshadaisies by their neighbours (Bwk. 1961). Cf. Gosh.Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 120:
The losh preserve me, sirs.Ayr. c.1786 Burns Reply to a Trimming Epistle i.:
Losh man! hae mercy wi' your natch.Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Waugh (1898) x.:
Losh me! but I was terribly frighted and eerie.Sc. 1857 Wilson's Tales of the Borders V. 223:
"Loshifycairyme!" cried Kirsty; "he's lost his bonny black whiskers."Lth. 1857 Misty Morning 294:
Loshins o' me!Sh. 1862 Shet. Advert. (29 Sept.):
My loshins, boy, what deil cam ower dee for to mack dee gang an wraet seck extranordinar foly?Mry. 1865 J. Horne Poems 134:
But loshie, sirs! when I gang oot A bittie frae the toon.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xliv.:
Loshtie man, ye're seerly gyaun gyte.Dmf. 1877 R. W. Thom Poems (1883) 3:
But losh! when the autumn had dauner'd by, An' winter reigned 'neath a drumlie sky.Bnff. 1880 J. F. S. Gordon Chrons. Keith 101:
Losh Candy me! but siccan frichts: Fat next?Kcb. 1891 M. A. Maxwell Halloween Guest 216:
Loshen, Bet, ye look fleysome.Ags. 1899 Barrie W. in Thrums ii.:
Losh keep's a', Leeby; ye say that? They maun hae haen a quarrel.wm.Sc. 1907 N. Munro Daft Days xiii.:
Losh bless me! what a fine, big, sonsy baby you have gotten here.Lnl. 1910 J. White Eppie Gray 6:
But I hae ma doots, an' losh preserve's a' Noo wi' the lave they're gane awa'.Abd. 1918 C. Murray Sough o' War 30:
Ae foraneen my neiper chap cried — "Loshtie-goshtie guide's!"Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 19:
Losh sakes mei! the thochts that come seipin, are fit ti gar aa the trauchles an the fashes gang leike the snaw off the deike in a thowe.Kcd. 1933 Scots Mag. (Feb.) 334:
But lush, it's a small bit thing to greet over.Bnff. 1954 Banffshire Jnl. (25 May):
Loshtins be here, ye maun hae gotten a maist terrible stammagaster.Abd. 1981 Christina Forbes Middleton The Dance in the Village 27:
Och, losh b'here, ma face is green
An' faith, I'm like tae choke
Yon cheeky birkie's back again
An' handin' me a pyoke!