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.
JOSKIN, n. Also irreg. jaskin (Jam.); je(e)skin, geeskin (ne.Sc.), and curtailed form josk (Abd.30 1959). A country bumpkin, a yokel, a farm worker (ne.Sc., Per., Arg., Dmf. 1959); a casual labourer (Lth. 1825 Jam.). Also attrib. Orig. from Eng. dial. or slang.ne.Sc. 1884 D. Grant Lays 100:
'Twas no' for her to court an' kiss Wi' joskin' man or boy.Ags. 1901 W. J. Milne Reminisc. viii.:
Twa big, strong geeskins like you 'at cam' for the len o' my barrow.e.Lth. 1903 J. Lumsden Toorle 162:
Men, as now, at first were joskins.Kcd. 1933 L. G. Gibbon Cloud Howe 171:
She was worth her fee, and a joskin's as well.Abd. 1951 Buchan Observer (30 Oct.):
In the days of the strict half-yearly engagements, the jeskin, Jock or Jenny, was always counting the days to the Term Day.
