Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
EISEN, v. Also eis(s)in; eassin; eas(t)en; eicen; neeshin (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.); æsten. To desire the male, as a cow the bull (Sc. 1808 Jam., eassin, eisin; 1825 Jam.2, eicen); also used fig. = to desire anything strongly. Hence 1. vbl.n. eisnin(g), easnan, eissnan, strong desire (for the male) (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 43, eissnan; Bwk.2 1950, eisnin); also with vbl. pref. a(n)(= on); 2. ppl.adjs. (1) eassint, “having taken the bull” (Fif., Lth., Twd. 1825 Jam.2; Bwk.2 1950); (2) eassenin, desirous of the bull (Sc. 1808 Jam.). [′isɪn]1. Edb. 1773 R. Fergusson Poems (1925) 28:
Weel lo'es me o' you, Business, now; For ye'll weet mony a drouthy mou', That's lang a eisning gane for you.Edb. 1857–9 Trans. Highl. and Agric. Soc. 97:
In Edinburgh, the disease is known by the names of “dumb oestening” or “dumb bulling”.Bch. c.1928 (per Abd.15):
That coo's needin back again. She's an easnan the day.
Comb.: †eastning wort, scabious.m.Lth. 1715 A. Pennecuik Descr. of Twd. 15:
In the Parishes of Calder, the Country People call this Plant [Morsus diaboli flore albo, i.e. Scabious] Eastning wort, which they affirm makes there [sic] Cowes come to a Bulling, when they get of it amongst their other Meat.
