Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BUSSOM, n. Also boosom (m.Lth. 1857 Misty Morning 271). Variant form of Besom, a broom, q.v. [bʌsm]Sc. 1714 Household Bk. Lady Grisell Baillie (S.H.S. 1911) 94:
Aug. 18th: For 12 broom bussoms.Sh. 1926–1928 J.G. Lowrie buys a Ford in Shet. Times:
Een o' yon men wi a . . . lipperin borrow an a bussom apo da tap o' him.
Phr.: bussom-o'-heck, a derogatory name for a woman. Cf. Besom, n., 3, and see Heck, a prostitute.Lnk. 1902 A. Wardrop Hamely Sketches 81:
This is who [how] the brazen-faced bussom-o'-heck introduced me.
