Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
VOSE-MITHER, n. The core root of a boil or abscess (Ork. 1929 Marw.). [′vo:zmɪðər]
[Prob. ad. Norw. vagmor, id., < vog, pus. The -s may come from a by-form *vags- (gen.); for the second element cf. Norw. -mor, orig. “mother”, and wursum-mither s.v. Wursum.]