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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BEEZER, Beeser, n. Used, as Beez,n., by children; also gen. to mean a smart fellow, or anything bigger or finer than usual; something extreme of its kind (Sh., Ork., Bnff., Abd., Ags., Edb., Arg., Gsw. 2000s). Also attrib. [′bi:zər]Sc. 1927 W. Chapman in Scots Mag. (Aug.) 328:
I'm meanin' serial films — no' stories. I ance saw a beezer. It was ca'd “Vera the Vampire of Paris.”e.Rs.¹ 1929:
Beezer, an uncommonly effective person; also “a beezer of a blow,” etc. — i.e. a most effective blow, etc.Bnff.² 1930:
The neeps werena a great crap, bit there wiz some beezers amo' them.Abd. 1929 Abd. Press and Jnl. (11 Feb.):
To be quite honest there was a thumping crop [of potatoes] and lots of “beezers.”Abd. 1993:
What a beezer o a tattie!Ags. 1988 Raymond Vettese The Richt Noise 84:
Carties oot o orange-boxes
an' pram wheels. Auld bed-springs,
booncers, tethert til the feet.
Boolies knockit wi a skirl frae chalkit rings
an' beezer conkers crackt owre soon,
flin'ert on tirlin strings.Slg.¹ 1933:
It was a beezer — i.e. a knock-out blow.Edb.² 1933:
Your bool was a beezer.Edb. 1990:
It's a beezer the day.Arg.¹ 1929:
Here's a beezer comin' [a big wave].Gsw. 1985 Michael Munro The Patter 10:
beezer An extremely cold, icy day: 'I'm no goin oot the day, it's a beezer alright.'w.Dmf. 1910 J. L. Waugh Cracks wi' Robbie Doo (1914) 110:
Weel dune, Robin Hood; dash it, man, but you're a beeser.