Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
RISSOM, n. Also rissim; res(s)um, reisum; raisom; rizzim (Abd. 1825 Jam.). [rɪsm]
1. A single head or ear of oats (Abd. 1825 Jam., Abd. 1913). Also in Eng. dial.Dmf. a.1838 Jam. MSS. X. 255:
Raisom, resum, an ear or head of corn, detached from the stalk, lying in the field.
2. A small fragment, an atom, a particle, gen. in neg. contexts (Dmf. 1894 Trans. Dmf. & Gall. Antiq. Soc. 153; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Ork., Cai., ne.Sc., ‡Per., sm.Sc. 1968). Also in Eng. dial.n.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
There's no a ressum to the fore.Ags. 1894 J. B. Salmond My Man Sandy (1899) 106:
To abolish the Toon Cooncil o' every rissim o' imposeeshin.Ags. 1897 F. MacKenzie Northern Pine 47:
Here am I left withoot the seed o' siller, an' no' a rissom o' tobacco!Ags. 1934 H. B. Cruickshank Noran Water 30:
Nae haet or rissom sall be fund Whan Life has dune wi' me.Sc. 1936 J. G. Horne Flooer o' Ling 22:
The plooman hauds his wey Oot owre the ley, Happin the livin green Till no a ressom's seen.Ags. 1988 Raymond Vettese The Richt Noise 25:
and tae gie til the warl syne
that rissom o aefauld experience
nae ither hais, or can hae. And it's a sair fecht.
