Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BYSEN, BIZEN, Besyne, Bysene, n. Obs. in Eng. except in north. dial. [′bɑɪzən, ′bɪzən]
1. A person presenting a ludicrous or disgusting spectacle.Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.:
She's that dress't, she's a fair bysen.Ib.:
Hei got monimental drunk, an' made a perfect bizen o' his-sel.
†2. “Whore, baud” (Rxb. 1802 J. Sibbald Gloss., besyne, bysene, quoted by Watson Rxb. W.-B. 1923).
†3. Hence (1) bysenfu', “disgusting” (Rxb. 1825 Jam.2; 1923 Watson W.-B., obs.); (2) bysenless, “extremely worthless, without shame in wickedness” (Clydes. 1825 Jam.2).
[O.Sc. bysyn(e), bysin(e), a monster (D.O.S.T.); O.E. bis(e)n, an example (Sweet), O.N. bȳsn, wonder, portent (Zoëga).]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Bysen n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 23 Dec 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/bysen>
