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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

†NOSSOCK, n. Also nossac. A dram, a drink of strong liquor.Lnk. a.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 54:
I'll gie ye a nossock to heat your wame.Dwn. 1844 R. Huddleston Poems 17:
Ah! Bacchus, don't yeir drink yet spare, But hoise him in a nossac mair.

[Appar. a formation, by wrong division, from an ossock, a dim. form of Eng. oss(e), obs. since 17th c., an auspicious greeting, a wishing of good luck, sc. a toast, a health, a drink for luck.]

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