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: 1819-1898
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GO, n.2 1. A fuss, pother, to-do; a state of anxiety, distress, excitement, esp. in phr. in a go (Bnff., Cld. 1880 Jam.; Cai. 1900 E.D.D.; I., n. and em.Sc.(a) 1954).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 68:
She wiz in an unco go at hir sin's wa-gaan. The hail queentry side wis in a great go fin it wiz kent the auld minister's sin wiz t' get the kirk.Abd. 1890 Bon-Accord (4 Jan.) 20:
Kirsty wis in a terrible go, though, an' swore she wad leave the hoose.em.Sc. 1898 H. Rogers Meggotsbrae 7:
We micht hae come on no sae bad . . . if it hadna been for the go wi' her next.
2. In phrs. (1) go o' the year, “the latter part of it, when the day becomes very short” (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin viii.); (2) upon go, of persons: restlessly active, fussy; of things: much in use (Abd. 1825 Jam.; Sh.10, Abd.27 1954).(1) Kcd. 1819 J. Burness Plays, etc. 25:
It was a clear moon-light night i' the go o' the year.Ags. 1853 W. Blair Chron. Aberbrothock 30:
It was aboot the go o' the year that she was laid doon on her sickbed.
3. Go-between, n., a between-maid (Abd.27 1922; Ags.19 1954), “a servant who does part of the work of a housemaid and part of that of a cook” (Sc. 1888 N. & Q. (Ser. 7) VII. 37).
[Extended meanings of Eng. go, ‡going, colloq.: dash, the “rage”, on the go, restlessly active.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Go n.2". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 12 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/go_n2>
