Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
‡JEEST, n.2, v.2 Also jeast, jeist. Sc. variants of Eng. jest, (to) joke, etc. (ne.Sc. 1959). [dʒist]Sc. 1706 Earls Crm. (Fraser 1876) II. 16:
I am old and in long experience of slavry, and now of poverty; and I wish to leave the nation free of the first, and at-least in the road to leave the other; and I see not deliverance from ether without serious union, i.e. incorporating; for the other is a jeast, if not worse.Sc. 1826 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 126:
What . . . love-quarrels between pairtners! Jokin, and jeestin, and tauntin, and toozlin.Edb. 1829 G. Wilson Sc. Laverock 133:
It wad be a' but a jeast, Wad the Session and the priest, No tantalize and torture Donal' Graeme.Abd. 1865 G. Macdonald Alec Forbes lxxxiii.:
Dinna jeist, Thomas, aboot sic a dangerous thing.
Hence jeestie, -y, adj., used only with neg. e.g. in phr. nae jeestie, no laughing matter.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xl.:
It wusna lang till it grew feerious het. I'se asseer ye dancin' wusna jeestie to them that try't it.Abd. 1936 D. Bruce Cried on Sunday 8:
Oh, fy! Margot, that's nae jeesty.
