weather-gaw

plural weather-gaws

1. ScotlandUKdialectaloftenAn instance of some phenomenon in the sky said to signal bad weather, such as an incomplete or secondary rainbow, or a parhelion or sun dog; a weather-gall or water-gall.

   Weather-gaw, part of a rainbow seen, the greater part of the bow being intercepted.

   [1894 April 20 (date delivered), James Shaw, “Words, New to Me, Collected from the Dumfriesshire Dialect during the Last 30 Years”, in The Transactions and Journal of Proceedings of the Dumfriesshire & Galloway Natural History & Antiquarian Society. […] Session 1893–94, number 10, Dumfries, Dumfriesshire: […] Standard Office, published 1895, →OCLC, page 158

   5 more examples

   They asked Wattie, who was a very religious man, what could have induced him to gather his sheep on the Sabbath day? He answered, that he had seen an ill-hued weather-gaw that morning, and was afraid it was going to be a drift.

   1819 April, James Hogg, “Snow-storms”, in The Shepherd’s Calendar. […], volume II, Edinburgh: William Blackwood; London: T[homas] Cadell, published 1829, →OCLC, page 258

   [S]ee how much heavier the clouds fall every moment, and see these weather-gaws that streak the lead-coloured mass with partial gleams of faded red and purple.

   1822, [Walter Scott], chapter IV, in The Pirate. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC, page 59

   ‘The weather-gaw’ he scans above the hill, / Wherein the rainbow's hues with watery sheen / Gleam beautiful upon the grey-dark sky, / Yet ominous of storm; […]

   1875, John Veitch, “The Growth of Nature Feeling”, in The Tweed and Other Poems, Glasgow: James Maclehose, publisher to the University; London: Macmillan and Co., →OCLC, page 50

   The weather's taking up now, / For yonder's the weather gaw; / How bonny is the east now! / Now the colours fade awa'.

   1898, Richard Inwards, compiler, “Rainbow”, in Weather Lore: A Collection of Proverbs, Sayings, and Rules Concerning the Weather […], 3rd edition, London: Elliot Stock, […], →OCLC, page 135

   After supper I'll take you home—if the weather keeps good-humoured. Those weather-gaws aren't out for nothing. It'll rain cats and dogs to-morrow.

   1929, L[ucy] M[aud] Montgomery, “Marigold Entertains”, in Magic for Marigold, Toronto, Ont.: McClelland and Stewart, →OCLC, section 4, page 190

2. ScotlandUKdialectaloftenA period of fine weather in the midst of bad weather.

   "This is a fine day after the storm." "Aye, but aa doot it's a weather-gaw."

   1893–1894, Oliver Heslop, “WEATHER-GAW”, in Northumberland Words. A Glossary of Words Used in the County of Northumberland and on the Tyneside, volume IJ, London: [F]or the English Dialect Society by Henry Frowde, Oxford University Press, […], →OCLC, page 775