Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1721-1930, 1988-1994
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FUSHION, n. Also f(o)usion; fuzion (Sc. 1856 Life of Dr Wardlaw 457); fushon; fusshen (Ayr. 1878 D. Cuthbertson Rosslyn Lyrics 100); füsjon (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.); foyson; †fozion; fison, fissen, fizzen. Also curtailed form fuze (Ayr. 1900 E.D.D.) and erroneous form furzeon (Ayr. 1811 W. Aiton Agric. Ayr. 692). See also Fushionless. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. foison. [Sc. ′fu:ʒən, occas. ′fʌ-, m.Sc. + ′føʒən, s.Sc. + føʃən]
1. The nourishing or sustaining power of food or drink (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; ne.Sc., Per. 1953); pith, sap, succulence, as in plants (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Kcb.4 1900; ne.Sc. 1953). Now only dial. in Eng.Rxb. 1825 Jam.:
What are ye glowran at me for, whan I'm at my meat? Ye'll tak a' the fizzen out o't.ne.Sc. 1884 D. Grant Lays 20:
An' mair nor that, ye've droon't the drink; The fushion o't is oot."em.Sc.(a)"" 1895 “I. Maclaren” Auld Lang Syne 283:
A dinna think muckle o' beer . . . there's nae fusion in't.Per. 1898 C. Spence Poems 147:
If they [plants] have any useful fushion, Or if they're only fit for pushion.
2. Physical strength, vigour, energy, vitality, force (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B. 14; ne.Sc. 1953); bodily sensation, power of feeling (Id.); durability, of material (ne.Sc. 1953). Obs. in Eng. since early 17th cent.Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 326:
The fison of your Hips is loupen to your Lips, you dow not hotch for Hunger. An immodest Expression of young Girls to young Fellows.Abd. 1768 A. Rose Helenore 40:
My threed o' life is worn very sma', . . . . What fusion's in it, I shall frankly ware.s.Sc. 1793 T. Scott Poems 360:
Now I've nowther flesh nor tallow, A' my sap and fushon's gane.Ags. 1814 J. Ross Poems 101:
But gin we lose our bread an brose We'll hae but little fozion.Lth., s.Sc. 1825 Jam.:
The pump has lost the fizzen.Dmf. 1836 A. Cunningham Lord Roldan II. iv.:
Saut water takes a' the fizzen out o' me.Per. 1857 J. Stewart Sketches 71:
He gaunted an' pined an' he tint a' his fusion.m.Sc. 1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood xx.:
He's a dwaibly body wi' nae mair fushion than a thresh.Abd. 1928 J. Baxter A' Ae 'Oo', 18:
Winter! A' the scholars ca'in' Fushion intil thooms w' blawin'.Ags. 1988 Raymond Vettese The Richt Noise 18:
... the feck wad hae that ease
raither than swite i the warsle tae see
Scotland as it is and as it micht be,
or tak intil themsels the fushion o oor past, ... Rs. 1991 Bess Ross Those Other Times 48:
Cis hadn't the fooshion to argue with her. m.Sc. 1994 William J. Rae in James Robertson A Tongue in Yer Heid 114:
Gin the Attendance Officer had taen a thocht, and had socht him wi mair fusion, he micht hae fund him mony a day sittin by the burnie near Fowlie's fairm.
3. Mental or spiritual force or energy, understanding, strength of character (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Per. 1916 Wilson L. Strathearn 247; ne.Sc. 1953); power, potency.Sc. 1732 T. Boston Crook in the Lot (1773) 50:
There will be little foyson in it.Edb. 1772 R. Fergusson Poems (1925) 68:
Before I turn sae toom and shallow, And void of fusion, As a' your butter'd words to swallow.Per. 1817 A. Buchanan Rural Poetry 91:
A friend I am t' the Constitution, Though knaves hae ta'en awa its fusion.Abd. 1832 A. Beattie Poems 143:
The wife here practised mere delusion, That frae puir Saul took a' his fusion.Sc. 1887 Stevenson Underwoods 119:
At lack of a' sectarian füsh'n An' cauld religious destitütion.Kcb. 1895 Crockett Moss-Hags xxxiii.:
There's stuff and fushion in ye, and ye micht even tak' the e'e o' woman.Ags. 1930 A. Kennedy Orra Boughs xxii.:
Whaur's their smeddum, their fushion, their guts?
