Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1877-1904
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OSMAL, adj. Also osmel, ozmilt (Edm.); usmal, uismal (Ork. 1929 Marw.). Dark, dusky, greyish in colour (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1964); fig. having a gloomy, grim appearance, sinister, evil-looking (Jak.; Sh. 1964); “of a large-sized woman — used vaguely” (Ork. 1929 Marw.).Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 35:
A auld osmal lüikin' auld maid, wi' a mooth laek a horse happrick.Ork. 1904 Dennison Orcadian Sk. 22:
Her face usmal an' troubled like.
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"Osmal adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/osmal>
