unco

CIDE DICTIONARY

unco, a. [Scot. The same word as E. uncouth.].

 Unknown; strange, or foreign; unusual, or surprising; distant in manner; reserved.  [1913 Webster]

unco, adv. 

 In a high degree; to a great extent; greatly; very.  [1913 Webster]

unco, n. 

 A strange thing or person.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

unco, adj., adv., & n. Sc.
--adj. strange, unusual; notable.
--adv. remarkably; very.
--n. (pl. -os)
1 a stranger.
2 (in pl.) news.

Idiom

the unco guid esp. derog. the rigidly religious.

Etymology

ME, var. of UNCOUTH