Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1897, 1951-1992
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WISKER, n. Also wiskar, wusker; whisker, whiscan (Mry. 1825 Jam.). [′wɪskər; ′ʍɪsk-]
1. A bunch of feathers, short straws, or the like, whipped at one end to form a kind of handbrush (Mry. 1825 Jam.; ne.Sc. 1974, wusker).
2. A bunch, usu. of straw, used as a sheath for knitting needles at a woman's waist (Mry. 1825 Jam.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 211, wiskar, Bnff. 1948, whisker; ne.Sc. 1974, wisker, wusker); latterly also a leather belt.Mry. 1897 J. Mackinnon Braefoot Sk. 120:
"Pit a girse up 'er [a pipe], Maister Macwhirter," said the goodwife, handing him a grass out of a "wisker".Abd. 1951 People's Journal (29 Sept.):
When referring to her knitting it was her "wivin" or sometimes "shank." She used a "wisker" made of straw.Mry. 1984:
I remember old women wearing wuskers when I was small. Fif. 1992 Fife Advertiser Jun :
Granny and one of my aunts always wore a wusker, a leather belt with holes in the side.
