mosey

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Alternative spellings 1.2 Etymology 1.3 Verb 1.3.1 Usage notes

[edit] English

[edit] Alternative spellings

• mosy, mozey, mozy

[edit] Etymology

Unknown southernism; conjecturally linked to vamoose and to mose about.

[edit] Verb

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

1. (mainly 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. (mainly 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.

[edit] Usage notes

• Associated especially with the dialect of the Old West.