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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BIZZ, BIZ, n. and v. Also biss (Mry. 1873 J. Brown Round Table Club 238). The Sc. form of Eng. buzz. See P.L.D. § 60.1. [bɪz]

I. n.

1. It may mean, as in Eng. buzz, the hum of an insect, of whirling machinery, of people talking together. Its extended use, meaning commotion, bustle, state of impatient haste, excitement, is more common in Sc. than in Eng.Sc. 1793 “Tam Thrum” Look before ye Loup 27:
Maister Burke never thought that ony set o' men wou'd be sae mischievous as to mak' use o' a single expression to set ye aw in a bizz.Abd.² 1934:
The lassie wis spring-cleanin' wi an unco biz.Gsw. 1877 A. G. Murdoch Laird's Lykewake, etc. 181:
That fireside is aye in a bizz Whaur the family is bigger than twa.

2. A hissing sound.Edb. 1773 R. Fergusson Sc. Poems (1925) 13:
Sometimes they catch a gentle gizz [wig], Alake the day! And singe, wi' hair-devouring bizz, Its curls away.wm.Sc. [1835] Laird of Logan (1878) 565:
She addressed the director of the steamer “. . . oh, man, haud up the handle o' your boat, and let aff the bizz, and tak him up.”

3. A rumour.Edb. 1895 J. Tweeddale Moff 129:
I dersay, mum, ye'll hae heard the bizz aboot me?

4. (See quot.)Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 72:
Hair all tossed on end, is said to be in a bizz.

II. v., intr. and tr.

1. intr.

(1) To hiss: (a) of escaping steam; (b) of water on red-hot metal; (c) of the effervescence of liquids; (d) transf. to be fiery with thirst.(a) Hdg. 1801 R. Gall Poems (1819) 66:
The puddings, bairns, are just in season — They're newly made — the kettle's bizzing.(b) Edb. 1843 J. Ballantine Gaberlunzie's Wallet viii.:
An' Vulcan, like a red-het couter, Bizzing in water.(c) Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems 19:
Sae brawly did a Pease-scon Toast Biz i' the Queff, and flie the Frost.Edb. 1811 H. Macneill Bygane Times 4:
Brander'd Kipper, And rizzer'd Haddies, (groats the dizzen), Gade down wi' tippenny a' bizzin.(d) Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II. 109:
Whare couthy chiels at e'ening meet Their bizzing craigs and mou's to weet.

ppl.adj. bizzin', fizzing.Cai. 1930 J. Mowat in John o' Groat Jnl. (11 April):
A' kind o' bizzin', fizzin' drinks.

(2) To bustle about.Uls.(D) 1879 W. G. Lyttle Readings by Robin 71:
By the time I haud din a wheen o' wee odds an' ends here an' there an' got back tae the hoose, Peggy wuz bizzin' aboot like a bee, an' hed the brekfast reddy.Uls. 1993:
I bizzed along to catch the shops.

2. tr. To cause to buzz, excite.Hdg. 1908 J. Lumsden Doun i' th' Loudons, etc. 166:
An' then he is so close at hand, He's aften like to bizz our land!

3. tr. To roast, fry, frizzle. Slk. 1818 Hogg B. of Bodsbeck xii.:
Bizz him an scouder him.

III. Phrases: (1) Cry bizz aff o', to rebound from; play bizz aff o', id. (Ags.² 1934).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 217; Bnff.², Abd.⁹ 1934:
He gart the stehns cry bizz aff o' the coo's rumple.

(2) Play bizz till, (with a negative) not to be equal to.Ib.:
“A re ye aible t' lift that queedfou o' claise?” “No' a canna play bizz till't.”

(3) Say bizz till (see quot.).Abd.⁷ 1925:
When anyone excels in work or in other ways, it is said that “Nane cud say bizz tull 'im.”

(4) Tak the bizz, (a) (see quot.); (b) be at sixes and sevens.(a) Lth. 1825 Jam.²:
To tak the bizz, a phrase applied to cattle, when, in consequence of being stung by the bot-fly, they run hither and thither.(b) Edb. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick x.:
Ye couldna be lang in ony company withoot somethin bein said that gart them a' tak the bizz thegither, an' syne there was an end to guid fellowship an' richt feelin.