Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
GOUSTER, v., n. Also gowster, guster, gooster. [Sc. ′gʌustər, Sh. + ′gust-, ′gʌst-, ′gost-]
I. v. 1 “To speak in a violent blustering manner” (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.), to boast (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928); Sh., Ork., Dmf. 1955). Vbl.n. gousterin', a scolding, “dressing-down.” Also common in Eng. dial. in various forms. Cf. Gowst.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
What's du gusterin aboot?Dmf. 1912 J. L. Waugh Robbie Doo i.:
I expected a gousterin' frae Mary Ann, but when I keeket roon' I saw she had faun asleep suddenly.Sh. 1950 New Shetlander No. 20. 42:
Da sam voice at wis wint, no sae lang ago, ta roar an gouster owre da toon.
Hence goust(e)rous, adj., vigorous, hearty, boisterous, “strong and active” (Lth. 1825 Jam.).Dmf. 1841 Carlyle in Froude Life (1884) I. 207:
It [hero worship] is a goustrous determined speaking out of the truth about several things.Ayr. 1901 “G. Douglas” Green Shutters xx.:
A gowsterous voice hailed him from the Black Bull door.
2. “To storm with wind and rain” (Sh., Ork. 1880 Jam.; Sh.10 1955), to be boisterous (of weather) (Ork.5 1955).
Hence †(1) goust(e)rous, adj., of weather, etc.: dark and stormy, tempestuous; frightful (Ayr. 1825 Jam., ‡Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; ‡Ayr.4 1928; Dmf. 1955); (2) goustery, adj., wet and windy (w.Dmf. 1925 Trans. Dmf. & Gall. Antiq. Soc. 27; Sh., Gall., Dmf. 1955). Cf. Gowstie, adj., 3.(1) Sc. 1818 Scots Mag. (Oct.) 328:
Black grew the lift wi' gowsterous nicht, Aloud the thunner rair't.Dmf. 1825 Jam.:
A goustrous nicht, a dark, wet, stormy night; including the idea of the loudness of the wind and rain, as well as of the gloomy effect of the darkness.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 219:
Great, gourlie, goustrous-lookin' clouds Seem'd jundyin' i' the air wi' thuds.Lnk. 1838 J. Struthers Poet. Tales 17:
Goustrous win's are owre me blawin.Sc. 1926 H. M'Diarmid Drunk Man 74:
We peer oot frae't [darkness] Like cat's een bleezin' in a goustrous nicht.Edb. 1968 J. K. Annand Two Voices 36:
Ane in golf, seekin land and libertie, Aince coost upon the goustrous northern seas(2) Kcb.1 1929:
A goustery day is a day of blustering winds.
II. n. 1. A wild, violent, blustering or swaggering person (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Sh., Ork. 1880 Ib.; Sh.10 rare, Ork., Kcb., Dmf. 1955); a stubborn, churlish person (w.Dmf. 1925 Trans. Dmf. & Gall. Antiq. Soc. 27; Kcb. 1929).Sc. 1746 Culloden Papers (1815) 273:
He is the only Gouster and Ruffian that is with them.
2. A violent outburst of language (Sh., Ork., Dmf. 1955); “blustering way of speaking; fierce, threatening address” (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), guster). Also a sigh (Ork.5 1955).Ork. 1912 Old-Lore Misc. V. ii. 69:
Ap he got wi' a gouster apae them, sain, “There's been mony a black night aboot da hoose o' Horraldshay, an' dere's be wan dis night!”Ork. 1929 Marw.:
He cam oot wi' a gouster (guster) at flegged me.
3. A strong breeze (Sh. 1899 J. Spence Folk-Lore 119, gooster, Sh.10 1955); “not a mere gust, but continuing for some time” (Ork. 1929 Marw.).
[Of doubtful origin, but prob. a variant of Eng. dial. gauster, goster, to behave in a noisy, blustering manner, Mid.Eng. galstre, to make a noise or outcry. The I.Sc. forms may be orig. a different word, a freq. formation from O.N. gusta, to blow in gusts, later confused with the Sc. forms and meanings.]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Gouster v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Apr 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/gouster>
