Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1877-1897
[0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]
GOGAR, n.1 Also gog(g)er. [′gogər]
†1. “A kind of large fishing-hook; now commonly used of any fishing-hook above the usual size” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)), one used for securing a large fish after it has been netted or caught by line.Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 31:
A most beautiful mermaid, . . . an' a muckle turbot gogar catched her right under da shin.
2. By extension: (1) “a very big needle; a big knitting-needle” (Jak.); (2) any sharp-pointed instrument; (3) “anything very large of its kind; a very tall woman” (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., gogar, Sh.10 1954).(2) Sh. 1897 Shetland News (7 Aug.):
Da fljomies o' skin at wis flaed aff o' dem [sheep] wi yon gogers o' shears.
You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Gogar n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 12 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/gogar_n1>
