Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
GISSIE, -Y, int., n. Also gisi, geesie, gis, geese. Common in n.Eng. dial Cf. Gussie. [′gɪse, ′gis(i)]
I. int. A call used to pigs (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), gis(i); Ayr. 1923 Wilson Dial. Burns 166, gissie; Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 245, gis(sie); Ork. 1929 Marw., geese-geese; Sh., Cai., Fif., Knr., Hdg., Bwk.3 (geesie), Peb., Ayr., Gall., Rxb.4 (gis(sie)) 1954).Fif. 1952 Daily Record (24 May):
When we, too, wished to rouse the somnolent pig in the crave it was always as “Gissy-gissy,” that we “addressed” him.
II. n. A pig, a sow (Cai.7, Per.4 1950), a young sow (Ayr.4 1928).
[Norw. dial. gis, call-word to swine, Sw. dial. giss, id., ? from O.N. griíss, a young pig, with dropping of r. ]
