a., adv., and sb. Sc. and north. dial. 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. 1792 (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 ane vncow schell,… He wirkis sorrow to him sell.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. 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., II. 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. Ibid. (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 conscquent inattention to dress,… extolled by the ‘unco gude’ as a virtue.
1887. Daily Tel., 12 March, 5/2. The absurdities initiated by the ‘unco’ guid’ in their futile attempts to promote public morality by legislation.
C. sb. 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.
