unco, a., adv., and n. Sc. and north. dial.
(ˈʌŋkə)
Also 5 vnkow, 6 vncow, 7, 9 uncow, 8–9 unko, 9 unco', unca.
[Shortening of uncouth a.]
A. adj.
1. Unknown, strange; unusual.
| c 1410 Chaucer's Troylus iii. 1797 (Campsall MS.), And ouer al þis so wel koude he deuyse Of sentement and in so vnkow wyse, Al his aray, þat [etc.]. 1500–20 Dunbar Poems xxxi. 13 He that..schuttis syne at an vncow schell,..He wirkis sorrow to him sell. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.) II. 132 At this tyme an vncow and sair seiknes..invadet hail Scotland. 1683 Law Mem. (1818) 246 Taken with an uncow disease, like unto convulsion fits. 1725 Ramsay Gentl. Sheph. iii. ii, They're here that ken, and here that disna ken The wimpled meaning of your unko tale. 1785 Burns Halloween xxviii, Wi' merry sangs, an' friendly cracks,..And unco tales, an' funnie jokes. 1816 Scott Antiq. xxxii, It was an unco thing to bid a mother leave her ain house wi' the tear in her ee. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xliv. 306 Buyin' a twa three rigs o' grun' an' sittin' doon wi' a' thing unco aboot's. |
b. Weird, uncanny.
| 1828 Moir Mansie Wauch x, It was an unco thought, and garred all my flesh creep. 1893 Stevenson Catriona xv, It was an unco place by night, unco by day. |
2. Remarkable, notable, great, large.
| 1724 Ramsay's Tea-t. Misc. (1733) I. 25, I had amaist forgot My mistress and my song to boot, And that's an unco faut I wate. 1786 Burns The Calf 4 There's yoursel just now, God knows, an unco Calf! 1815 Scott Guy M. xi, [The boy's disappearance] made an unca noise ower a' this country. 1820 ― Monast. xxxiii, It would be an unco task to mend the yetts. 1869 A. Macdonald Love, Law & Theol. viii. 133 She thinks an unco heep o' Mr. Ochtertyre. |
B. adv. Extremely, remarkably, very.
| 1724 Ramsay's Tea-t. Misc. (1733) I. 26, I hate to live; but O I'm wae And unko sweer to die. 1786 Burns Twa Dogs 116 Whyles twalpennie-worth o' nappy Can mak the bodies unco happy. 1816 Scott Antiq. xi, Though you're near enough, yet Miss Grizel has an unco close grip. 1869 C. Gibbon R. Gray iv, Ye're getting unco fine in your ways. |
b. the unco guid, those who are professedly strict in matters of morals and religion.
| 1786 Burns (title), Address to the Unco Guid, or the Rigidly Righteous. 1859 Habits of Gd. Society iv. 160 Indifference and consequent inattention to dress,..extolled by the ‘unco gude’ as a virtue. 1887 Daily Tel. 12 Mar. 5/2 The absurdities initiated by the ‘unco' guid’ in their futile attempts to promote public morality by legislation. |
C. n.
1. A strange or unusual thing or tale; a novelty or piece of news. Usu. pl.
| 1785 Burns Cotter's Sat. Nt. v, Each tells the uncos that he sees or hears. 1822 Galt Steam-Boat xvii. 359, I..was thankful for being returned in safety among my friends, after seeing such uncos. 1886 B. Brierley Cast upon World xi. (E.D.D.), Jone knew all the ‘uncos’ that were afloat. |
2. A stranger.
| 1800 Adair in Currie Burns' Wks. I. 172 She gave as her first toast after dinner, Awa, Uncos, or, away with the strangers. 1821 Galt Ann. Parish xx, We had advised her, by course of post, of our coming, and intendment to lodge with her, as uncos and strangers. |