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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

KNUSE, v., n. Also (k)noose, nooze, nuse, nizz (Marw.), and freq. forms (k)nu(i)zle, nooz(z)le, noosle (Gregor), nuzzle (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.), nozzle, nizzle (Cld. 1880 Jam.), nissle (Ib.). [nu:z(l), nø:z(l), nɪz(l)]

I. v. 1. To squeeze, press down with the knees (and hands), to bruise; to press in the arms, cuddle; to pummel, drub (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; Kcb.¹ 1900; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B. 194, 221, 222); of the weather: to buffet; specif. to thresh a sheaf roughly by striking off the heads of grain (Ork. 1929 Marw., Ork.⁵ 1951). Also fig. Vbl.n. knoozin', nooslan, nisslin(g), a beating, drubbing, pummelling (Cld. 1880 Jam.; Ayr. 1903 E.D.D.). Comb. nizz-meat, a sheaf roughly threshed and given as food to animals (Ork. 1929 Marw.). See Meat.Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 189:
But starker Thrums got Patie doun, And knoost him sair.Ayr. 1791 Burns in Merry Muses (1959) 51:
Weel-knooz'd hurdies.Slk. 1802 Hogg in Edb. Mag. (May) 369:
The hay, sae noos'd and saddit.Rnf. 1805 G. McIndoe Poems 50:
I see ye're fear'd ye get a knoozin'.n.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
He nus'd him with his knees.Slk. 1820 Hogg Tales (1874) 241:
Ye're still but a young man yet, son, an' experience may noozle some wit intil ye.Dmf. 1823 J. Kennedy Poems 65:
Amang them a' to pick and choose, And with some winsome winchie noose.Rxb. a.1860 J. Younger Autobiog. (1881) ix.:
I've a good mind to nooze your ribs there where ye lie.Gsw. 1895 A. G. Murdoch Readings 85:
An approaching storm which was likely to nozzle us between Stobcross Docks an' Partick.

†2. To knead (Sc. 1845 T. Brown Dict., nuse).n.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
Nusing at a bannock.

3. To nurse or fondle a child (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., nuizle).

II. n. A buffeting from stormy weather (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 118, noosle).