Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1706-1721, 1786-1930, 1985-1987
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MESSAN, n. Also messen, -in, -on. [′mɛsən]
1. A small pet dog or house dog, as opposed to a dog used for some form of work, a lap-dog (w.Sc. 1741 A. McDonald Galick Voc. 80; Sc. 1808 Jam.); used contemptuously: a mongrel, a cur (Fif., Lth., Ayr. 1923–26 Wilson; Fif., w.Lth., Ayr., Kcb., Dmf. 1962). Comb. messan-dog, -tyke, id.Sc. 1706 J. Watson Choice Coll. i. 31:
And if I have said ought astray, Which may a Messon's mind dismay.Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 349:
We Hounds slew the Hare, quoth the Messan.Ayr. 1786 Burns Twa Dogs 17–18:
But wad hae spent an hour caressan, Ev'n wi' a Tinkler-gipsey's messan.Sc. 1817 Scott Rob Roy xxx.:
And that they suld dee the death of Walter Cuming of Guiyock, wha hadna as muckle o' him left thegither as would supper a messan-dog.Dmf. 1853 Carlyle in Atlantic Monthly (1898) 685:
On Jane's lap is her wretched little messin-dog “Nero”.Ags. 1896 A. Blair Rantin Robin 103:
Ye're aye stickin to that useless messin o' a dog yet.Sh. 1897 Shetland News (24 July):
Da yells o' dee an' da yalkin o' yon messin o' dine.Kcb. 1898 Crockett Standard Bearer 124:
Cowered like a weel-lickit messan tyke.m.Sc. 1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood xiv.:
There is not evidence here to hang a messan dog.
2. A term of contempt applied to human adults signifying lack of stature or dignity (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.; Rxb. 1915 Jedburgh Gaz. (27 Aug.) 2; Uls.2 1929; w.Lth., wm.Sc., Kcb. 1962; Edb., Gsw. 2000s), or to a child (Ayr., Kcb. 1962).Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 115:
Of Poetry the hail Quintessence Thou hast suck'd up, left nae Excrescence To petty Poets, or sic Messens.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xiii.:
Willie Lapstane an' Peter Rozet! Bonnie messans indeed! Ane o' them wi' a bool fit, an' the ither gleyed o' an ee.Kcb. 1897 A. J. Armstrong Robbie Rankine at Exhibition 35:
It's a what, ye atteniwated messin?Dwn. 1901 Northern Whig Ulsterisms:
But he is a pernickitty wee messan, and forby he is very near-be-gone, and as hard as a whinstone.Sc. 1927 Scots Mag. (April) 18:
It hovers near, but aye, when I let grab I mak' a proper messan o' mysel'. Gsw. 1985 Michael Munro The Patter 45:
messin A small dog or puny person; now used mainly as a mildly insulting name, of the kind adults might use for a child: 'Get out of that bunker ye dirty wee messin!' wm.Sc. 1987 Wallace Robb in Joy Hendry Chapman 50 46:
'Ye dirty wee messin, keep yer snotters tae yersel!'
3. Attrib. applied to an undersized potato.Ork. 1930 Orcadian (13 Feb.):
Ooler, again, is a word that was often applied in Moorland Orcadia to messan or undersized tatties. “Never a tatta hae we thae year bit a few sma' oolers no wirt hintin”.
