Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
¶BITTERSIE, n. Bitterness, harshness. Rare.Sh. 1958 New Shetlander No. 47. 9:
I tink dir joys, da peerie blinks that lit up and warmed da bittersie of existence, had intensity we maybe miss.
[Bitter + -ie, -y, abstract suff., with -s- on analogy with e.g. jealousy, courtesy.]