A Doric A-Z: F revisited

An occasional A-Z of the Doric, the dialect spoken in the North-East of Scotland which is rich in words and phrases associated with the land and the sea.

FOOSTIE: In a decayed, mouldy condition.

"Henry wis a bit o an orral, wi bladdit teeth an fooshty braith that rikkit o garlic." (Henry was a bit of a shabby remnant, with rotten teeth and a mouldy breath that reaked of garlic.)

Sheena Blackhall. Wittgenstein's Web 50. 1996

I am also much taken by Ambrose Bierce's definition of Geology.

GEOLOGY, n. The science of the earth's crust --to which, doubtless, will be added that of its interior whenever a man shall come up garrulous out of a well. The geological formations of the globe already noted are catalogued thus: The Primary, or lower one, consists of rocks, bones or mired mules, gas-pipes, miners' tools, antique statues minus the nose, Spanish doubloons and ancestors. The Secondary is largely made up of red worms and moles. The Tertiary comprises railway tracks, patent pavements, grass, snakes, mouldy boots, beer bottles, tomato cans, intoxicated citizens, garbage, anarchists, snap-dogs and fools."

Ambrose Bierce (American Writer, Journalist and Editor, 1842-1914)

This isn't, in fact a foostie, mouldy boot but a foostie, mouldy Clementine that I found lurking in the depths of the fruit bowl.