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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

MAWSIE, n. Also mawsey, mausie, -ey, and undim. form mause. [′mɑ:zi]

1. An amply-proportioned, stout woman, a motherly-looking woman. Used fig. in 1790 quot. of a fiddle and in 1825 quot. of a broody hen; in a derogatory sense: a slovenly, untidy woman, a trollop, a stupid, senseless woman (Sc. 1808 Jam.).Ags. 1790 D. Morison Poems 23:
The fidler tifted ilka string, Play'd tulloch ev'ry smite o't, When mausie wad nae loudly sing, He gae his bow the wyte o't.Sc. 1825 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 26:
Never set aboon fourteen eggs to ae hen, nor indeed mair than a dizzen, unless she be a weel-feathered mawsie, and broad across the shoulders.Sc. 1826 Ib. 216:
The mutchless mawsey, . . . flings hersell frae the tap step o' the flicht to the causeway.Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 112:
She's a braw sonsie mawsie, that wife o' his.Bwk. 1869 R. Mennon Poems 18:
A withert mause frae Edencraw.

2. A warm woollen garment such as a jersey or pullover (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 112; ne.Sc., Ags. 1962).Bch. 1906 J. Christie Drachlaw Revis. 43:
They donn'd a grey hame-woven mawsie.Bnff. 1923 Banffshire Jnl. (19 June) 8:
Keep yer quites on, an' put on a mawsey gin ye can get een, an' ye'se dee.Abd. 1959 People's Jnl. (15 Aug.):
She'd on a mawsie an' wee short breekies.