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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

DOSS, adj., v.¹, adv.

1. adj. Spruce, neat, tidy (Cld. 1808 Jam.).m.Sc. 1924 “O. Douglas” Pink Sugar (1928) 88:
Ay, McCandlish has gotten his place rale doss. Nae credit to him — wi' twae gairdeners.Lnl. 1896 A. M. Bisset Poets Lnlsh. 188:
Though hamely her claithin' — yet what aboot that? She lookit aye doss in her shortgoon and brat.

Hence ‡(1) dossie, a small, neat, well-dressed person (Lnk., Rxb. 1825 Jam.²; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., obsol.); †(2) dosslie, “neatly, but simply” (Ib.); †(3) dossness, “neatness, conjoined with simplicity” (Ib.).

2. v.

(1) To trim, to make neat, to spruce (up) (Bnff.², Abd.⁹ 1940; Lnk. 1825 Jam.²). Gen. with up.Cai.⁹ 1949:
To doss one's hair; all dossed up.

†(2) With about: “to go about any business in a neat and exact way; to do every thing in a proper manner, in the proper season, and without any bustle” (Fif. 1825 Jam.²).

Hence dossie, adj., applied to one who dosses about (Ib.).

3. adv. Neatly, tidily.em.Sc. 1909 J. Black Melodies 83:
Auld freends hae gane, auld times hae changed, Whaur peats were han'led doss.Lnk.¹⁰ 1927:
A laird had one of his tenants dining with him and was annoyed at his untidy way of eating. He said to him, “Sup doss, man, sup doss.”