mosey

WOTD – 5 March 2009    

English

Alternative forms

• mosy, mozey, mozy

Etymology

Unknown. US southernism; conjecturally linked to Spanish vamos (see vamoose) and to British dialectical mose about. May be derived from Alkonkian languages from the root verb to walk, pimose.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA: /ˈmoʊ.zi/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Verb

mosey (third-person singular simple present moseys, present participle moseying, simple past and past participle moseyed)

1. (chiefly US, dialectal) To set off, get going; to start a journey.
   • 1910, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Kilmeny of the Orchard, ch. 1,

     Haven't got time. I must mosey up to the North End to see a man who has got a lovely throat. Nobody can find out what is the matter. He has puzzled all the doctors.

2. (chiefly US, dialectal) To amble; to walk or proceed in a leisurely manner.
   • 1919, William MacLeod Raine, A Man Four-Square, ch. 6,

     We'll mosey along toward the river. Kinder take it easy an' drift the herd down slow so as to let the cattle put on flesh.

Usage notes

• Associated especially with the dialect of the Old West.