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.
†EELIST, n.
1. A flaw, deformity, defect.Abd. 1768 A. Ross What Ails the Lasses i.:
I have outsight and insight and credit, And from any ee-list I'm free.Abd. after 1768 A. Ross Fortunate Shepherd (S.T.S.) ll. 128–9:
Stout limbs and round, an' firm as ony tree Were his, an' of a' seeming eelist free.Mry. 1806 R. Jamieson Pop. Ballads I. 294:
Sonsie, and cantie, and gawsie, But eelist or flaw was she.
2. “A cause of regret” (Dmf. 1825 Jam.2).
3. Envy; “a desire to have possession of something that cannot easily be obtained” (Ayr. Ib.).
4. A secret dislike (for someone) (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.).
[O.Sc. 1549, elast, 1597, eyelist, fault, defect; 1552–1651, e(i)lest, elist, eye-list, etc., cause of disagreement, grudge or ill-feeling; from Ee, eye, + Mid.Eng. lest, last, O.N. lǫstr, fault.]
