Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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

†FOUSSIE, Fousse, Fusee, n. Sc. variants of Eng. fossé, a ditch. Arch. or hist.Sc. 1726 W. McFarlane Geog. Coll. (S.H.S.) I. 391:
Here are still to be seen the ruins of an old fortification, on the northwest syde and south are fusees or moats.Sc. 1819 Scott L. Montrose x.:
Trace out a sconce upon that round hill with a good graffe, or ditch. . . . Fortify the said sconce . . . by a foussie, or graffe.Sc. 1925 Scots Mag. (Feb.) 355:
The burnies bock, and to the fousses Rin helter-skelter.