Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
KIZZEN, n. Also kizzin (Fif., Lth., Ayr. 1923–26 Wilson; Bch. 1932 Dieth 95), kissen, cisin, cizzen; ceusin (Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 37), cuisen (Sc. 1916 T. W. Paterson Wyse-Sayin's vii. 4), cuizen (em.Sc. 1912 W. Cuthbertson Dykeside Folk 63), cuisin (Ags. 1894 J. F. Mills J. Donaldson 5), cüshin (Sh. 1898 W. F. Clark Northern Gleams 34). Sc. forms of Eng. cousin. Also attrib. and fig. See P.L.D. § 61. [kɪzn; Fif. + kɪʒn, ke:ʒn]Sc. 1874 A. Hislop Sc. Anecdotes 288:
The laird . . . met him one day driving a pig to market — “Weel, Saunders, quoth he, ye're driving yer kizzen to the market”.Rxb. 1875 N. Elliott Nellie Macpherson 139:
Jean Macalister and Kirsty Deans are first cuisins.Ags. 1936 A. Fleming Christina Strang ii.:
The imposing array of uncles and “cisins” who had filled “the room”.wm.Sc. 1986 Robert McLellan in Joy Hendry Chapman 43-4 24:
And there's Kate McBride, and yer kizzen Jeanie McAlister, and I dinna ken wha else, aa wi a spite at me for something. Sc. 1995 Herald 25 Nov 19:
Whiteer we think aboot the economics o the Union, it's gey hard tae avoid the fact the cultural legacy wis near fatal. Insteid o benefittin fae the positive influences o a kizzen language an culture, we suffered the humiliation an repression o cultural imperialism an bein brainwasht intae thinkin aw oor native languages, Gaelic an Scots, wir only fit for barbarians an sheuch howkers, no for educatit folk at aw.
