gowdyn.
Scottish.
Only in heels over gowdy: = heels over head at heel n.1 and int. Phrases 3a.
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the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > falling > [phrase] > head over heels
tail over top1303
top over tailc1330
heels over headc1400
tail and top1558
head over heels1678
over head and heels1678
heels over gowdy1751
head over tip1824
arse over tip1922
ass over tea-kettle1963
1751 W. Forbes Dominie Deposed (ed. 10) 18 The wanton Towdie; Which did the Dominie ding o'er, Just Heels o'er gowdy.
a1796 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) II. 810 Soon heels o'er gowdie! in he gangs.
1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 150 Heels-over-gowdie whurlin'.
1879 A. G. Murdoch Rhymes & Lyrics 20 She aff the pavement slips, an' got a heels-owre-gowdie fa'.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
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n.1751