Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
DISGEEST, v. and n. Also disjeest, -gest, -gist, †-cheast. [dɪs′dʒist, -′dʒɛst, -′dʒɪst]
1. v. To digest (Sh.10 1948, disgest; Bnff.2, Abd. correspondents, Fif.10 1940; s.Sc. 1900 E.D.D.; Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn., disgist). Also in Eng. dial.Sc. a.1737 Maj. Fraser's MS. (ed. A. Fergusson) I. 112:
The poor gentleman finding this a hard pill to discheast contracted a bloody flux.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb viii.:
Ye canna expeck the bairn's stamackie to be able to disjeest the like o' that.Abd. 1916 G. Abel Wylins 79:
I howp ye'll mak' their sausage dear, An' nae disgeest.
Hence (1) disgeester, digestion (Abd.27 1930; Fif.13 1940); (2) disgeestion, -jeestion, -jastion, id. (Bnff.2 (dissjastion). Ags. correspondents (disgeestion) 1940).(1) sm.Sc. 1923 R. W. Mackenna Bracken and Thistledown i.:
Naething wad satisfy her but I maun buy her a “snapman.” Bit I pit ma fit doon firmly. “It's bad for the disgeester,” says I.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 281:
Naething cam wrang to his disgeester frae taties an' dab to a cogue fu' o' brose .(2) Edb. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick ix.:
I'm thinkin it wad be ower stark meat for your wake disjastion.Kcb. 1894 S. R. Crockett Raiders v.:
“Dinna be in a hurry, mither,” he said; “it's bad for the disjeestion.”
2. n. The digestion (s.Sc. 1900 E.D.D.).Sc. 1825 Jam.2:
An ill disgest, a bad digestion.
