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.
Quotation dates: 1721, 1791-1895
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KNUSE, v., n. Also (k)noose, nooze, nuse, nizz (Marw.), and freq. forms (k)nu(i)zle, nooz(z)le, noosle (Gregor), nuzzle (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.), nozzle, nizzle (Cld. 1880 Jam.), nissle (Ib.). [nu:z(l), nø:z(l), nɪz(l)]
I. v. 1. To squeeze, press down with the knees (and hands), to bruise; to press in the arms, cuddle; to pummel, drub (n.Sc. 1808 Jam.; Kcb.1 1900; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B. 194, 221, 222); of the weather: to buffet; specif. to thresh a sheaf roughly by striking off the heads of grain (Ork. 1929 Marw., Ork.5 1951). Also fig. Vbl.n. knoozin', nooslan, nisslin(g), a beating, drubbing, pummelling (Cld. 1880 Jam.; Ayr. 1903 E.D.D.). Comb. nizz-meat, a sheaf roughly threshed and given as food to animals (Ork. 1929 Marw.). See Meat.Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 189:
But starker Thrums got Patie doun, And knoost him sair.Ayr. 1791 Burns in Merry Muses (1959) 51:
Weel-knooz'd hurdies.Slk. 1802 Hogg in Edb. Mag. (May) 369:
The hay, sae noos'd and saddit.Rnf. 1805 G. McIndoe Poems 50:
I see ye're fear'd ye get a knoozin'.n.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
He nus'd him with his knees.Slk. 1820 Hogg Tales (1874) 241:
Ye're still but a young man yet, son, an' experience may noozle some wit intil ye.Dmf. 1823 J. Kennedy Poems 65:
Amang them a' to pick and choose, And with some winsome winchie noose.Rxb. a.1860 J. Younger Autobiog. (1881) ix.:
I've a good mind to nooze your ribs there where ye lie.Gsw. 1895 A. G. Murdoch Readings 85:
An approaching storm which was likely to nozzle us between Stobcross Docks an' Partick.
†2. To knead (Sc. 1845 T. Brown Dict., nuse).n.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
Nusing at a bannock.
3. To nurse or fondle a child (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., nuizle).
II. n. A buffeting from stormy weather (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 118, noosle).
[Phs. of Scand. orig. Cf. Norw. knuse, knysa, to crush, squeeze, pound, cogn. with M.L.Ger. knusen, Du. kneuzen, id., O.E. cnyssan, to beat.]
