Mosey
In Southern and Appalachian speech, "mosey" means to walk or move in a slow, easy, or meandering way - often with no particular rush.
synonyms: amble, meander, saunter, drift along
Hillbilly Dude Says...
We use 'mosey' out in the country down here, it's common. Hillbilly Dude Says...
We use 'mosey' out in the country down here, it's common. Pronunciation
[MOH-zee] /ˈmoʊ.zi/
Meaning & Usage
- To move slowly or casually (verb)
Lula:
We’d better mosey on over to church.
We’d better mosey on over to church.
Hank:
Don’t hurry me - I’m moseyin’.
Don’t hurry me - I’m moseyin’.variations: mozy
★ If someone tells you to "mosey on out of here," it’s a polite way of saying "time to go," but without fuss. ★
Origin and Etymology
The word mosey appears in American English by the early 1800s, likely from playful slang. While also common in the Old West, it became a familiar part of Southern and Appalachian storytelling, carrying a sense of slow movement and lack of hurry.
Usage Notes
- Common in both Southern/Appalachian and Western rural dialects.
- Often used with "on" → "mosey on down" or "mosey on over."
- Still widely understood today, though it has an old-timey flavor.