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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.

OWSE, v. Also ou(w)ze, ous(e), owes. tr. and intr. To scoop up water, to empty by baling, as a boat (Ork. 1825 Jam.; Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 169; Cai. 1907 County of Cai. (Horne) 80; Ork. 1929 Marw.; I.Sc., ‡Cai. 1964); to draw water in a pail (Sh. 1914); to pour or ladle out; of rain: to pour down in torrents (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)). Also fig. [ʌuz]Sh. 1822 S. Hibbert Descr. Shet. 512:
Strik da head oot o' da drink kig and ouse da boat.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 53:
They wur fairly ootmucht wi rowin' an' owsin.Sh. 1891 J. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 39:
As Güd, in His rich providince, Is owsin oot ta me?Sh. 1901 T. P. Ollason Mareel 81:
Da cook at da time wis owsin' da denner.Cai. 1903 E.D.D.:
To ouse o'er. To swish over.Sh. 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 142:
Whin I guid ta bed Girzzie wis still owsin up da mylk aff o' da flüer wi' a plaeter.Ork. 1949 “Lex” But-end Ballans 20:
I could hae demmelled i' de loch an' owsed as many [fish] oot.

Derivs. and combs.: 1. owser, a wooden scoop for baling a boat (Sh. 1938 M. Powell 200,000 Feet on Foula 311; I.Sc., ‡Cai. 1964); †2. ousmol, bilge-water (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928)); 3. owse-room, ous(t)(er)rum, oost-, ust-, the space in the wale of a boat from which the bilge-water is baled out (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl., Sh. 1964); the man who rows on the starboard side of a two-oared boat (Ork. 1929 Marw.); ‡4. owseskerri, ous(e)-, -skjerry, = 1. (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 169, 1908 Jak. (1928); I.Sc. 1964). Also fig. of a big, heavily-built person (Jak.). See also Auskerrie; 5. owster, ooster, the act of baling (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 169, 1908 Jak. (1928), Sh. 1964); the water which has to be baled out (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.).3. Sh. 1898 Shetland News (17 Sept.):
He lint him apo' da shiv'l i' da owse room.Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 243:
He's lyin' afore da fiskafel i' da oost-room o da sixern.Sh. 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 89:
He gripped her bi da maeshie fettle oot o' da shot an' flang her i' da owse room.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Pull noo — owse-room, steady, back-ber.Sh. 1950 A. Halcrow Sait Fishermen 70:
Forward of the run was the owse-room, an important division of the boat. Here the flooring was higher, sheathing the keelson right across, so that the shovel might have a smooth sweep from one side to the other. This was the bailer's work shop . . . Armed with a capacious shovel or “ouskerri” — capable in deft hands of lifting two gallons at each scoop — the bailer had to keep the boat dry whatever befell.4. Sh. 1949 New Shetlander No. 19. 44:
He took hadd o' da owseskerri, an' began ta owse fir a' dat he wis wirt, but da water gained on him.5. Sh. 1898 Shetland News (25 June):
“Shüs no sae tight as I wid laek,” William said, as he heard da pilticks plashin i' da ooster.Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.:
I was idda owster.