▪ I. waugh, a. Sc. and north.
(wɑf)
Also wauch, wauf, waff, etc.
[See wallow a.]
Tasteless, insipid; unpleasant to the smell or taste, sickly; faint, weak, etc. (see Eng. Dial. Dict.).
1703 Thoresby Let. to Ray, Waugh, insipid, unsalted, and so unsavory. 1814 [Mrs. Johnstone] Saxon & Gael III. 189 (Jam.), I think she'll no put owre this night. The wauch earth smell is about her already. |
▪ II. waugh, int.
(wɔː)
Also 8 wa, 9 wagh.
[An instinctive exclamation; cf. wough, whau.]
An exclamation indicating grief, indignation or the like. Chiefly as attributed to N. American Indians, etc.
1761 F. Sheridan Sidney Bidulph (1796) IV. 92 The other brat..squalls for it [the toy] directly, Waugh, Sir, it was mine first. 1791 J. Long Voy. Ind. Interpr. 164 Wa! wa! or Oh! oh! replied the Savage, but what is the warrior tied up for? 1827 J. F. Cooper Prairie I. xvii. 252 A tall Indian..stood upright, uttering the sententious exclamation, ‘Wagh!’ 1832 Lytton Eugene A. iv. ix, ‘Well, if ever I seed the like!’ quoth the corporal;..‘augh!—waugh!—bother!’ 1834 Whittier Mogg Megone 411 Wagh!—Mogg will have the pale-face's hair. 1846 P. B. St. John Enchanted Rock iv. 89 ‘Wagh!’ escaped from the lips of the Indian girl. 1891 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Sydney-side Sax. vi, Talgai sings out ‘Wagh!’ and pointed with his chin, like all blacks do. |
▪ III. waugh
variant of waff v.3, waw n.2