a. Sc. and dial. [cf. Du. voos (in Kilian also voosch, vooghs, ‘spongiosus, rarus et levis instar fungi’); also Norw. fos spongy, LG. fussig porous, spongy.] Spongy, loose-textured; also of flesh = FOGGY 3. Also fig., ‘fat-witted.’ Hence Foziness.
1821. Blackw. Mag., X. Dec., 753. The weak and young Whigs have become middle aged, and their foziness can no longer be concealed, so we have no satisfaction now in playing with them at football.
1823. J. Wilson Ibid., XIII. 593. A certain ingenious person of this town lately met with a turnip of more than common foziness in his field. Ibid. (1826), Noct. Ambr., Wks. 1855, I. 15. The language is out of condition;—fat and fozy, thick-winded, purfled and plethoric.
1894. Ian Maclaren, Beside Bonnie Brier Bush, 206. Tak the minister o’ Pitscourie noo; he’s fair fozzy wi’ trokin’ in his gairden an’ feeding pigs, and hesna studied a sermon for thirty year.
