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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FLAESOCK, n. Also flaesack, -ick, -och; fleasock (Jam.), flasick. [′fle:zək]

1. A shaving of wood (Sc. 1808 Jam.; ne.Sc. 1950). Mostly in pl. Also attrib.Mry. 1897 J. Mackinnon Braefoot Sk. 139:
Beside a white-washed hearth, in the ruddy and flickering light of a “flaesack” fire.

2. A small particle, an atom (Bnff. 1905 E.D.D. Suppl., flasick); esp. a fragment of ash given off by burning wood (ne.Sc. 1943), a particle of soot (Abd.7 1925), wool fluff (Abd.27 1949), a pine-needle (Bnff. 1916). Adj. flaesocky, covered with pine-needles, with fluff (Bnff. 1916). Mostly in pl.Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains and Hilly 2:
That's a flaesick cam' oot o' the fire an' lichtit on yer breeks.

[Prob. a dim. form of Fliss, with lowering of vowel. Cf. Flisom.]

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