Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1707-1724, 1824-1931
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LISK, n.1 Also lyske; leesk (Jam.); lusk (wm.Sc., Uls.). The groin, flank, the fold of the body between belly and leg (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Inv. 1902 E.D.D.; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; Rxb. 1942 Zai.; Uls. 1953 Traynor, m.Sc. 1961). Also in Eng. dial. [hsk]Sc. c.1707 Jacobite Relics (Hogg 1819) I. 70:
Ane proddit her in the lisk. Anither aneath the tail.Edb. 1724 Caled. Mercury (11 Feb.):
A Gauger stabb'd one Mr Fouller … once in the Lisk and twice in the Belly.Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 79:
He danced till his lisk was beset wi' a stitch.s.Sc. 1843 J. Telfer Border Ballads 44:
The stinkan brock wi' his lang, lank lyske.Ayr. 1890 J. Service Notandums 124:
I canna gang far yet till I get a pain in the lisk.Uls. 1901 Northern Whig:
The doctor may be told that the person he is called to see has received an injury in the “lisk”.Dmb. 1931 A. J. Cronin Hatter's Castle II. v.:
I sometimes feel a wee, hard lump in my list [sic].
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"Lisk n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 7 May 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/lisk_n1>
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