Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†FOSSET, n, v. Also faser, fossar, -er. Also deriv. fossetin. I. n. “A mat of rushes or sprots, laid on a horse, to prevent his skin from being fretted by the Currack” (Abd. 1825 Jam.).Abd. 1847 Gill Binklets 13:
He had mounted his horse with faser, cruiksaddle, and creels.Abd. 1920 R. H. Calder Gleanings 8:
It's a sober horse 'at cauna cairry the fosser.
II. v. To put a saddle of this sort on a horse. Abd. c.1890 Gregor MSS.:
"Yer wife's no easy to keep the fossar on" said of a wife that liked her own way. . . . I doot it's force it's gart you fossar yer horse the day, said of one that was doing anything from sheer necessity.
