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.
†FRIZZEL, n. Also frizell, frizzle, frisel, and forms frizon, frizzing, with alternative ending. Quasi-dim. frizzie (Fif., Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 243).
1. The steel used for striking fire from a flint (Rxb. 1825 Jam., 1923 Watson W.-B.; Fif., Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 243).Sc. 1696 Darien Papers (B.C.) 38:
200 Tinder Box Frizells of 3 sizes at 2½ p.s.Peb. 1884 J. Grosart Poems 52:
In the auld flint and frizzel and tinder-box days.Rxb. 1900 Trans. Hawick Arch. Soc. 93:
The donations to the Museum during the month comprised the following: 6 frisels, Border district.Slg. 1910 Scotsman (12 Sept.):
The ploughman no longer strikes a light with his “frizzle” and “match,” as “spunks” are cheap.Dmf. 1912 J. & R. Hyslop Langholm 634:
There was also the flint or steel, or the “frixil” [sic] as it was called. Phr.: frizzle an' flint, “a boys' game (played till about 1880), the fugitive side being bound to indicate their whereabouts intermittently to the pursuing side by sparks from a flint” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); also called frizzle-hunt (Ib.).
2. The hammer of a flint-lock pistol or gun (Rxb. 1825 Jam.). Hence frizzel-spring. Arg. 1714 Arg. Justiciary Rec. (Stair Soc.) II. 310:
He saw the said John Campbell snap a pistoll towards the door of the said house and observed the fire fly from the frizon but that no shoot went off.Slk. 1820 Hogg Tales (1874) 288:
Putting down the frizzel and making it spring up again with a loud snap.Ayr. 1828 D. Wood Poems 75:
But Jamie, I had maist forgot, To tell what's wrang wi' my gun-lock — The frizzing is turn'd far o'er saft, It misses fire very aft.Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 231:
The piece was now drawn back, priming examined, flint touched up, frizzel scraped. . . . He pulled the trigger just to see the action of the frizzel-spring.
