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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

OU, int., v. Also ow, owe, oo. [u:, ɔu, ʌu]

I. int. Sc. forms of Eng. oh, ooh, gen. indicating some degree of surprise (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Sh., Abd., Ags. 1964) or occas. vexation, alas!Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 85:
He was hardly master o' himsell; Yet says: “Come ben — ow, Bydby, is that ye?”Slk. 1801 Hogg Poems (1874) 461:
Oo, na, na, sir, it was never printed i' the world.Sc. 1815 Scott Guy M. xi.:
Ou, sir, the bairn aye held an unca wark wi' the Supervisor.wm.Sc. 1835 Laird of Logan 46:
“Hoo are ye the day?” “Brawley, ou brawley.”Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xxx.:
Ou, it's maybe no a flech ava . . . it's maybe a clipsheer.Ags. 1866 R. Leighton Poems (1869) 322:
Ow, ow, Guidwife, to think ye've been Sae lang aboot the hoose.Kcd. 1880 W. B. Fraser Laurencekirk 376:
Ow, than, I doubt there's nae remeid.Ags. 1899 Barrie W. in Thrums ii.:
Ou, it'll be Lawyer Ogilvy's servant lassieky.Abd. 1920 M. Argo Makkin o' John 6:
Ou, settin' for a rael fair crappie.Abd. 1952 Buchan Observer (11 March):
“A quick thowe,” said the old saw, “ne'er gart ocht o's think owe.”

Combs.: 1. ou ay(e), oowa, o-wye, ow-wi; oo wy (Ags. 1853 W. Blair Aberbrothock 8), oh yes, yes, indeed, that's so (m.Lth. 1858 Dark Night 234, ow-wi; Dmf. 1899 Country Schoolmaster (Wallace) 331), sometimes “expressive of some degree of impatience or dissatisfaction” (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Ayr.¹ 1910). See also Ay, int., 6. Gen.Sc.; 2. ou yea, really?, is that so? (‡Bnff., Abd. 1964). See also Yea.1. Sc. 1826 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 109:
“May I review it?” “Ou ay.”Lnk. 1887 A. Wardrop Mid-Cauther Fair 202:
“What New World?” “America”. “Oowa.”Slk. 1899 C. M. Thomson Drummeldale 1:
“Will Grannie be expeckin' iz?” “O-wye, Ise warran' will she.”Edb. 1901 E. H. Strain Elmslie's Drag-Net 9:
The red — an' — white colour, ow, ay, I had it.2. Abd. 1832 Aberdeen Mag. (May) 254:
“Oh, Sir, weel div I like when ye preach.” “Ou yea, my wifie,” replied the astonished preacher; “I wat ye're nae like mony ane.”Ags. 1896 A. Blair Rantin Robin 20:
Ow, yea, woman, an' what micht ye be expectin in't?

II. v. To make this interjection, to ejaculate.Lnk. 1805 G. McIndoe Poems 145:
John oo'd and nicher'd like a stallion.