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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FASHION, n., v. Obs. Sc. forms: fasson (Ayr. 1823 Galt Entail xxxv.), fassoun, fauson, fawson; fasin (Sh. 1836 Gentleman's Mag. II. 589), fesson, faissin.

Sc. usages:

I. n. 1. In pl.: Manners, behaviour (Sh.¹⁰, Ags.¹⁹, m.Lth.¹, Uls.⁴ 1951). Rare or obs. in Eng. Gen. with qualifying adj., as fair fashions, good manners, politeness; ill fashions, bad manners, esp. inquisitiveness (ne.Sc. 1951).Sc. 1829 E. Logan Restalrig iii.:
Wha kens what unsoncy fashions he may hae learned in the countries ower the sea.Lth. 1856 M. Oliphant Lilliesleaf xvi.:
It is not in my way to discuss the father's fashions with the bairn.Ags. 1870 Kirriemuir Observer (7 Jan.) 3:
For a' his fair fashions it was soon seen that he was just the auld thing.Abd. 1912 G. Greig Mains's Wooin' 48:
I'm nae spierin' for ill-fashions. I hiv something in my e'e.Kcd. 1932 “L. G. Gibbon” Sunset Song 165:
It was Mistress Melon that brought him through, her meikle red face fair shaking with ill-fashionce [sic], agog to know what was toward.

2. In phr.: to make (a) fashion, to pretend, make a show (Sh.¹⁰, Bnff.², Abd.²⁷, m.Lth.¹, Bwk.³ 1945). Cf. obs. Eng. fashion, a pretence.Sc. 1816 Scott Antiquary xvi.:
Now he hardly touches ony thing, only just pits a bit on the plate to make fashion.Ags. 1861 Arbroath Guide (19 Oct.):
[He] was only makin' a faissin.Abd.²⁷ 1951:
He vrocht geyan little though he aye made a fashion o tearin in.

II. v. Only in ppl.adj. fashiont, †fassoun'd, †fa(u)sont, †fawsont; †faciant (Ayr. 1809 W. Craw Poet. Epistles 53), †fussent. Of a specified appearance, manner or disposition. Sometimes used absol. = well-mannered, respectable, seemly, also sarcastically = polished but gen. preceded by a qualifying adj., auld, fair, ill, weel, etc. Ill-fashiont specif. connotes (a) quarrelsome, irascible (Fif. 1825 Jam.); (b) rudely inquisitive (Sh.¹⁰, ne.Sc. 1951).Ayr. 1786 Burns Twa Dogs ll. 141–2:
There's monie a creditable stock O' decent, honest, fawsont folk.Edb. 1811 H. Macneill Bygane Times 22:
Thae sam schools, Whar nought is seen but fashion'd fools.Edb. 1821 W. Liddle Poems 243:
The debtor then maun hae recourse To some fair fawsont soothing words.Ayr. 1847 Ballads Ayr. (ed. Paterson) 85:
Ilka lass is thrang engaged Wi' some weel fassoun'd callan O'.Rnf. 1852 J. Mitchell Grey Goose Quill 112:
It wad save me a great deal o' trouble an' gar the house leuk far mair fashiont like.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xix.:
He's jist a sneevlin', ill-fashion't creatur, 't maun be meddlin' wi' a'thing.Abd. 1898 J. R. Imray Sandy Todd 12:
Ull-fashioned deevils like them nae doots hae wyes an' means o' fin'in' oot a'thing.Abd. 1913 G. Greig Mains Again 16:
Bit Mains said gin ony ill-fashiont breet i' the kitchie wantit to ken jist sen' them ben to him.Abd.²⁷ 1951:
Fa is he, that, gin it binna ill-fashiont spierin?m.Sc. 1987 Ian Bowman in Joy Hendry Chapman 50 77:
' ... Nae fawsont lassie wad gang wi the likes o him.'