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.
MARSGUM, n. Also masgum, maasguum, -goom; ma(r)sgrim (Ork. 1929 Marw.; I.Sc. 1930 Fishery Board Gl.); mers-gim (Cai. 1887 Harvie-Brown & Buckley Fauna Cai. 264, Cai. 1962); mersgam (Sh. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 143); mergsam (Ork. 1891 Evans & Buckley Fauna Ork. 273); mirsgim (Cai. 1903 E.D.D.); mursgan (Abd. 1930 Fishery Board Gl.); ma(r)skamo (Ork.). The angler or fishing frog, Lophius piscatorius (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.; Sh., Cai. 1962); also the squid or cuttlefish (Sh. 1962). [′mɑ(r)sgum; Cai. ′mɛrsgəm]Sh. 1877 G. Stewart Tales 31:
Is it a masgum or a turbot?Sh. 1916 J. Burgess Rasmie's Smaa Murr (30 Iktober):
Death is a maasgoom, 'at glaeps aathing.Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 106:
Wisna he set his fit apon a rotten maasguum it wis driven ashore, an' flatched him laek a pancake.
