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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

QUISQUOUS, adj. Also quisquose, quiscos(kos), quisquis.

1. Perplexing, doubtful, debateable, dubious (Sc. 1808 Jam.).Sc. 1720 R. Wodrow Corresp. (1843) II. 485:
Being biassed with his opinion in quisquose and difficult matters.
Ayr. 1830 Galt Lawrie Tod IV. ix.:
Your conduct this day has been very quiscos.
Ayr. 1836 Galt in Tait's Mag. (Jan.) 33:
The leddies maybe a wee quiscoskos in character.
Sc. 1899 Montgomerie-Fleming 122:
Strangers arriving in a place and being considered of doubtful character are spoken of as “Very quisquis sort of people.”

[O.Sc. quisquis, 1671, quisquous, 1678, id. Prob. ad. Lat. quisquis, who- or whatsoever, i.e. uncertain, undefined.]

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