Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 2005 (SND, online supplement).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1985-1992
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OOYAH, int. also oh-yah. A cry of pain (Ork., Cai., Bnff., Abd., Ags., Edb., Gsw., Ayr. 2000s).wm.Sc. 1985 Liz Lochhead Tartuffe 33:
[ELMIRE:] Ooyah, you're nipping!
[TARTUFFE:] I got carried away!
Ah'd dee raither than hurt you, Ah care faur
Too much to ever — Gsw. 1985 Michael Munro The Patter 51:
ooyah An exclamation of pain: 'Ooyah! Get aff ma fit!'Gsw. 1987 Peter Mason C'mon Geeze Yer Patter! 55:
Ooyah! That thing jist wannered me oan the heid. !XXXX! That missile hit me on the head.Edb. 1992:
Oh-yah! Get oaf ma fit!m.Sc. 1992 Iain Banks The Crow Road (1993) 20:
'Maybe she had a heart attack while she was up the ladder, 'Dean suggested.. Ash kicked his shin. 'Oo-ya!' he said.
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"Ooyah interj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/snd00090519>
