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: 1847-1912
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GOSH, n. Used as in Eng. as an excl. (gen. of surprise) or mild oath, but note Sc. usages in following exclamatory phrs.: gosh be here (Abd.9 1920; Sh., Abd. 1955), gosh bliss me (Sh. 1898 Shetland News (3 Dec.); e.Rs.1 1929; Bnff., Ags. 1955), gosh guide us (Sc. 1825 Jam.); gosh keep me (Ags.18 1955); gosh me (Ags., Slg., Bwk., Arg., Rxb. 1955); gude gosh (Ags., Rxb. 1955); also found in Cor. dial. Also goshie (Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxvii.), gorsh, gooshtie-gosh (Mry. c.1920), goshen(s) (Ayr. 1811 W. Aiton Agric. Ayr. 692; Bnff.4, Ayr.4 1928), goshen be here (Abd.9 1920), goshins; goshtie (me) (Abd.27 1955). [′gɔʃ(te)]Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 163:
Aich wow! gude gosh! wha's aught the gab, That's gifted sae wi' words prophetic.Abd. 1874 A. Hislop Sc. Anecdotes 111:
"Gosh be here, laird!" said he, "I've seen the geese and the dyeucks hunners o' times crossin' there."Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 122:
Gosh me! we couldna eat eggs for ever.Sc. 1895 F. A. Steel Red Rowans v.:
Gorsh! Miss Marjory, wass I no tellin' you he was bonnie?Abd. 1900 E.D.D.:
Goshins, laddie, ye'll mairtyr yersel eatin' sae muckle.Sc. 1912 J. H. Findlater Sc. Stories 254:
Gosh me! sic a pair o' ye!
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"Gosh n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/gosh>
