Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
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.

GOWST, v., n. Also gust. Sc. form and usages of Eng. gust. [gʌust, gʌst]

‡I. v. To scold roughly, to speak loudly and angrily (Gall. 1827 Curriehill, 1905 E.D.D. Suppl.); to speak boastfully, to bluster (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 239; Kcb.⁴ 1900; Dmf. 1955), to storm, rage.Sc.(E) 1932 R. L. Cassie Sc. Sangs 33:
I'm owre Scots tae fraise wi' Gaul, Their notions gar me gowst.

II. n. 1. As in Eng., a blast of wind (Per., Kcb. 1955).Sc. 1893 Stevenson Catriona xv.:
There cam a gowst of wind, claught her by the coats, and awa' wi' her.Ags. 1988 Raymond Vettese The Richt Noise 81:
Mither on the green
hingin sarks on the line
an' suddenly in a gowst
as the bricht dreeps faa
twa thin airms o claith
wrap her in a weet embrace
and she's lauchin.

‡2. An angry shout (Sh.¹⁰ 1955).Kcb.⁶ c.1916:
Then he wud gie a gowst at puir Jock.

†3. “A loud-voiced blustering fellow” (Id.); a flighty, talkative person, a “blow.”Gall. 1900 E.D.D.:
“She's naething but a gust,” i.e. is a gust of wind — spoken very contemptuously.