Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1715, 1773, 1857-1859, 1928
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EISEN, v. Also eis(s)in; eassin; eas(t)en; eicen; neeshin (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.); æsten. To desire the male, as a cow the bull (Sc. 1808 Jam., eassin, eisin; 1825 Jam.2, eicen); also used fig. = to desire anything strongly. Hence 1. vbl.n. eisnin(g), easnan, eissnan, strong desire (for the male) (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 43, eissnan; Bwk.2 1950, eisnin); izning (Edb. 1735 Broadsheet (4 Oct.)); also with vbl. pref. a(n)(= on); 2. ppl.adjs. (1) eassint, “having taken the bull” (Fif., Lth., Twd. 1825 Jam.2; Bwk.2 1950); (2) eassenin, desirous of the bull (Sc. 1808 Jam.). [′isɪn]1. Edb. 1773 R. Fergusson Poems (1925) 28:
Weel lo'es me o' you, Business, now; For ye'll weet mony a drouthy mou', That's lang a eisning gane for you.Edb. 1857–9 Trans. Highl. and Agric. Soc. 97:
In Edinburgh, the disease is known by the names of “dumb oestening” or “dumb bulling”.Bch. c.1928 (per Abd.15):
That coo's needin back again. She's an easnan the day.
Comb.: †eastning wort, scabious.m.Lth. 1715 A. Pennecuik Descr. of Twd. 15:
In the Parishes of Calder, the Country People call this Plant [Morsus diaboli flore albo, i.e. Scabious] Eastning wort, which they affirm makes there [sic] Cowes come to a Bulling, when they get of it amongst their other Meat.
