Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
GUSEL, n., v. Also g(o)us(se)l, gus(s)l; gosel (Jak.), goz(e)l; gowsel, guzzel, -le, gushel. [Sh. ′gusəl, ′guz-, ′gʌus-; Ork. ′gɔusl, ′gʌʃəl]
I. n. A strong, drying wind, a squally or gusty wind (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., guzzle, 1914 Angus Gl., guzzel; Ork. 1929 Marw., gushel; Sh. 1955). Also dim. gussly (Ork. 1930 Orcadian (13 Feb.)).Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 155:
Janawiry, begins wi' a gowsel o' norderly wind an' sna, if da wind geng nort.
Hence gously, adj., blustery (of weather), fig. blustering (of people) (Ork. 1929 Marw.).
‡II. v. 1. Of the wind: to blow gently (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)).
2. To dry in the wind, esp. of fish (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.), mostly as ppl.adj., guseld fish (Jak.; Sh. 1955).
[A freq. form from * gus-, Norw. dial. gus, a stream of vapour, gosa, a breeze, a puff or blast of wind, gusa, to blow gently, Mod. Icel. gosa, to blow, puff.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Gusel n., v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/gusel>
