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.
Quotation dates: 1915-1929
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GLOSS, n.2, v. Sc. usages. [glɔs]
I. n. “A light sleep, a doze, fitful slumber” (Ork. 1929 Marw.), a “wink”. Gen. in phr. a gloss o' sleep (Abd.27 1954).Abd.14 c.1915:
I hinna gotten a gloss o' sleep a' nicht.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
He was just in a gloss o' sleep.
II. v. 1. To slumber lightly, doze, be half-asleep (Ork. 1929 Marw.; Bnff., Abd. 1954).Abd.7 1925:
He was glossin owre, glossin to sleep.
2. With ower: to skim through in reading, to read cursorily (Abd.27, Ags.19 1954).
[Specif. meanings of Eng. gloss, surface appearance. Cf. Gliff, Glint, Glisk.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Gloss n.2, v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/gloss_n2_v>
