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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

MOZE, n., v. Also mose; moose, mooze, moozhe (Cai. 1903 E.D.D.). [Sc. mo:z, Sh., Cai. + mu:z]

I. n. Decay, dry rot, fustiness (I.Sc. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Ork. 1929 Marw.; I.Sc. 1963). Found most commonly in derivs. 1. mozie, moz(z)(e)y, mosey, moosie (Jam.), (1) adj. (i) decayed, rotted, fusty, mouldy (Rnf., Ayr. 1880 Jam.; Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Ork. 1929 Marw.; I.Sc. 1963); (ii) covered with soft hairs, downy (Rnf., Ayr. 1880 Jam.); (2) n. a soft stupid person (Uls. 1904 Uls. Jnl. Archaeol. 127); (3) v. to loiter or hang around in a silly, purposeless manner (Ib.; Ayr. 1919 T.S.D.C., Ayr. 1963); 2. moozlie, of hay, etc.: = (1) above (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.). Also as a v., to become mouldy (Ib.).(1) (i) Ork. 1948 Orcadian (May):
Dan I fand a' me keck wis mozzy.

II. v. 1. To decay, to become musty or mouldy (Ork. 1929 Marw.; Ork., Cai. 1963). Ppl.adjs. mo(o)zed, mosin, -en (Jak.), fusty, mouldy, mildewed (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Cai.⁹ 1939; I.Sc. 1963, mo(o)sen).Cai. 1916 John o' Groat Jnl. (14 April):
Straw or hay that kept badly and got ill-tasted was said to be “moozed”.

2. To become benumbed, to lose the sense of feeling. Ppl.adj. mosen, mosin, mozin, benumbed (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)); drowsy, faint (Ib.).Sh. 1879 Shetland Times (23 Aug.):
I tocht I heard da tae bane snirkin' apo' da tidder, an' my haand wis mozin fir a lang time.