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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

HAZEL, n., v. Also hazzle (e.Lth. 1794 G. Buchan-Hepburn Agric. e.Lth. 19), hasill- (Sc. 1886 B. & H. 244), hasle-; hesle (Ork. 1728 H. Marwick Merchant Lairds (1936) I. 140); hastle; hezel (Dmf. 1923 J. L. Waugh Thornhill 200); heezel (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); wheezle. [Sc. he:zl, †hesl, ‡s.Sc. hi:zl]

I. n. In Combs.: 1. hazel oil (also oil of hazel), a jocular expression for a caning, a sound beating (with a hazel stick) (Sc. 1808 Jam., oil of hazel, 1825 Jam.; Ags., Dmf. 1956); 2. hazel-palms, the catkins of the hazel, Corylus avellana (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., heezel-). See Palm; 3. hazleraw, the lichen, Lobaria pulmonaria (s.Sc. 1777 J. Lightfoot Flora Scotica II. 831; Sc. 1808 Jam., hazle-, hasle-). For -raw, see Aikraw. Now only liter.; 4. wheezle-rung, a stick used by the country-people for lifting a large boiling pot off the fire (Ayr. 1825 Jam.); 5. hazel-shaw, a thicket of hazels (Teviotd. 1825 Jam.; Rxb. 1956); 6. hastle-whin, see quot. and Whin, n.¹.1. Bwk. 1856 G. Henderson Pop. Rhymes 100:
“The oil of hazel” has been famous in all ages as an approved application to the backs of obstinate dames, and mischievous, ill-contrived boys.Sc. 1871 W. Black Daughter of Heth xvi.:
I'll present ye with a bottle o' hazel oil, if ye ken what that is.Kcb. 1894 Crockett Raiders v.:
Ye shall suffer for this, if there's hazel-oil in Dumfries.2. Bwk. 1853 G. Johnston Botany E. Borders 187:
The catkins [of Corylus avellana] are called, in Berwickshire, Hazel-palms.3. Sc.(E) 1925 H.M'Diarmid Sangschaw 23:
I couldna read The words cut oot i' the stane Had the fug o' fame An' history's hazelraw No' yirdit thaim.6. Lth. 1789 J. Williams Nat. Hist. Miner. Kingdom II. 8:
Hastle whin or the indurated hastlecoloured argillaceous strata, of which there are considerable varieties; some of which have a fine close uniform texture, thin bedded, and often containing distinct impressions of various small plans between the laminae or folds of the strata.

II. v. To beat or thrash as with a hazel stick (Cai., Rxb. 1956). Common in Eng. dials.Abd. 1877 W. Alexander Rural Life 114:
Hacket . . . in the parley that ensued, lifted his stick, with the exclamation, “I'll hazel ye, sir!” uttered in his fiercest tones.