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.
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.
