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.
BLACK-BA(I)SED, adj.comb. Depressed, in the dumps, pessimistic. Only in Carlyle. Hence black-baisement, a gloomy mood, apprehensiveness.Dmf. 1837 T. Carlyle New Letters (1904) I. 74:
As you are so black-baised about me, I determined to send off a small word to-day to relieve you. . . . Let your black-baisement become a white-baisement. Dmf. 1863 Carlyle Life in London (Froude) II. 281:
It is no wonder, as Jean says, that you are ‘blackbased’ [note—it was a word of my mother's] at such a journey lying ahead.
[See also White, adj., 1. (2) and Basie, v.1, 2., black being used as an intensive.]
