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.
†MUIST, n., v. Also must; moust, moost.
I. n. 1. Musk (s.Sc. 1808 Jam.), in comb. muist-ball, a perforated ball containing musk or perfume.Sc. 1734 J. Spotiswood Hope's Practicks 538:
A Silver Muist-ball.
2. Hair powder or flour used as a substitute for this (Sc. 1808 Jam.). Adj. mousty, moostie, powdered.Sc. 1796 Scots Mag. (Nov.) 770:
I think ye [a hairdresser] might exemption make, For the young bonny lasses sake, Nor moost nor guinea frae them take.Gsw. 1797 J. Strang Gsw. Clubs (1856) 583:
Diel's in the worrie-cow! Is he gaun to pollute my hail kirn o' milk wi' his ill-faured greasy gab and moosty pash?Dmf. 1836 A. Cunningham Lord Roldan III. xi.:
Thae carles [priests] wi' the mousty heads and wide sark sleeves, and curious cloaks.
II. v. To apply hair powder, to powder a wig. Ppl.adj. muisted, mousted, moostet (Gsw. 1807 J. Chirrey Misc. Poetry 103), powdered.Sc. 1761 Magopico (1810) 33:
What's that you laugh at, you there with the moosted twa-tailed wig and the lang ruffles?Edb. 1795 The Complaint 5:
Nae mair the pu'pit maun he speel, Wi' head well muisted owr wi' meal.Sc. 1816 Scott Antiquary x.:
Would ye creesh his bonny brown hair wi' your nasty ulyie, and then moust it like the auld minister's wig?Sc. 1827 C. I. Johnstone Eliz. de Bruce I. iii.:
It matters little . . . whether the idol of the vain unsanctified heart be a tea-cup, a weel-mousted periwig, or the fair face of an enticing maiden.
