Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
HOOZLE, n.1 Also hoozel (Uls.3 1930), houzle; hoosle, hoosel (Kcb.4 1900; Ant. 1905 Uls. Jnl. Archaeol. 123), housel (Bwk., Lnk., Rxb. 1825 Jam.; ‡Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); hosel (Watson). [Sc. ′hu:zəl, Per. ′hʌuzəl]
1. The socket into which the handle or shaft of a hammer, pick, axe, fork, etc. is fitted (Per., Fif., Lth. 1915–26 Wilson; Uls. 1953 Traynor; Slk. 1956); the spike on the head of a butcher's axe with which a cow is stunned (Uls. 1953 Traynor); a hoop, the pipe of a bellows (Rxb. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 107). Fig. = the buttocks (Ayr.4 1928).Sh. 1899 Shetland News (4 Oct.):
Dey strak dem doon wi' a hammer, or da hoosle o' a eech . . . Hit wis nae winder 'at da ox fell, fir da hoos'l o' da eech guid cleen trow her skult.
2. By extension: a paper wrapper tied round a number of documents to keep them together (Rxb. 1825 Jam., Rxb. 1957).
3. Fig. A hunchback (Uls. 1953 Traynor).
[Deriv. in -el of Eng. house, to fix in a socket, place in a secure position. Cf. housing, a socket.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Hoozle n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 2 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/hoozle_n1>
