Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1714, 1806-1844
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‡GAUD, n.1, v.1 Also gawd, †gaude, †gaad.
I. n. A trick, prank; "a bad custom or habit, of whatever kind. This word, although always used in a bad sense, does not necessarily imply the idea of cunning, as it has been generally explained. It is often thus expressed, an ill gaude" (n.Sc. 1808 Jam., gaud, gawd); "an ill habit, applied to horses and cattle" (Mry. 1813 W. Leslie Agric. Mry. 456). Also in n.Eng. dial.Mry. 1806 R. Jamieson Ballads I. 297:
Tam Tod was an ald-farran birkie, Weel versed i' the gawds o' the sex.
Hence gaudy, gaady, adj., of a horse: tricky, full of mischief (Lth. 1825 Jam., gaudy). Found in Eng. early 16th cent.n.Sc. 1714 R. Smith Poems 84–5:
. . . your Men they made good choise In buying such a Horse: . . . He's neither gaady, wood nor scar.
II. v. Of a horse: to play tricks, to caper (Ags.1 1939).Kcd. 1844 W. Jamie Muse of Mearns 60:
He never snored for want o' breath, Nor tryed to guad [sic] when in the graith.
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"Gaud n.1, v.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 2 Aug 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/gaud_n1_v1>
