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: 1715-1994
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WIZZEN, n. Also wizzan, wizen, wisen; †wyzen, -on; weezon; wuzen (Sc. 1822 Blackwood's Mag. (Jan.) 19), wuzzen (Sc. 1819 J. Rennie St Patrick III viii.), wussen (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); weasan, -en, -on, weazan, weazon; wazen (Sc. 1795 Scots Mag. (Nov.) 720), wazan, waazzen (Uls. 1953 Traynor), wazzan, wazzin (I.Sc., Cai. 1974); weisand, wizand, weezant (Mry. 1925); †wizran (Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 379), ¶wisehorn (Kcb. 1789 D. Davidson Seasons 62). after variant forms of Gizzern, q.v. Sc. forms and usages of obs. or dial. Eng. weasand. [wɪzn, wʌzn; wizn; I.Sc., Cai. wɑzn]
1. The gullet, the food passage in the throat, the oesophagus (Sc. 1825 Jam., wizen; Cai. 1931, wazzin: Uls. 1953 Traynor, waazzen; I.Sc., Ags., Per. 1974), specif. of a sheep (Sc. 1950, wazzin). Phr. to weet one's wizzen, to have a drink.Sc. 1715 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 77:
Now what the Friends wad fain been at . . . Was e'en to get their Wysons wat.Ayr. 1785 Burns Scotch Drink xiv:
But monie daily weet their weason; Wi' liquors nice.Rxb. 1808 A. Scott Poems 217:
Bonaparte, the French, an' invasion, Did saur in their wizens like soot.Sc. 1825 Jam.:
This word is used in a curious proverbial query, addressed to a hungry person. "Does your wame trow your wizen cuttit?" Are you so impatient for food?Kcd. 1849 W. Jamie Stray Effusions 26:
Weel they did their wizzens weet — Whilk aye were dry.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 62, 64:
Sheu wus tryan' tae stap a piece o' the mulls doon her craig, an' hid stickid i' her wazzin. . . . "The Deeval stap your wide wazan," says Vellyan; "you'r drunk a'."Edb. 1915 T. W. Paterson Auld Saws 128:
We dinna like him — Aye stappin doon oor wizzen Ony sic law.Cai. 1932 John o' Groat Jnl. (25 Nov.):
Dinged one skint o' speerits gied doon ma wasan 'at day.Cai. 1992 James Miller A Fine White Stoor 59:
It wouldna take much imagination or drink to turn one o them into a ghost, squatting there like a puddock watching a fleag. Slurp would go the giant tongue and doon, doon intil the wraith's wizzan wi ye.
2. (1) The air-passage in the throat, windpipe, trachea (I.Sc., Cai., Abd. 1974); hence by extension, the breath, life itself.Sc. 1724 Ramsay T.-T. Misc. (1876) I. 75:
My wyson with the maiden shore, Gin I can tell whilk I am for.Abd. 1733 W. Forbes Dominie Depos'd (1765) 32:
This of my quiet cut the wizen.Sc. 1742 S. C. Misc. (1846) III. 235:
I can assure your Grace (to use a Scotch proverb) that I will be always ready to venture craig and wizzen to serve your Grace.Rxb. 1815 J. Ruickbie Poems 27:
With some sharp knife, or razor dight, Presumes to nick his wyson.Sc. 1828 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) II. 94:
I just tichten a wee on his wizen his black neck-hankerchief.e.Lth. 1892 J. Lumsden Sheep-Head 261:
War it no an advantage to this accursed warld, I wad ring yer gusey weasen like Davie Hagart's.m.Sc. 1902 J. Buchan Watcher by Threshold 26:
This pricking of the puir beasts' wizands.Ork. 1915 Old-Lore Misc. VIII. i. 43:
Whit 'e waas fen tae deu tae save 'is wazzan.Cai. 1961 "Castlegreen" Tatties an' Herreen' 9:
[He] shot 'im through 'e wazzan!ne.Sc. 1994 Alastair Mackie in James Robertson A Tongue in Yer Heid 95:
When his heid liftit, and aabody still newsin, the thraes o his hoast made me think he was lauchin fit to bleed at some joke only himsel kent.
The quarry-hole haed hint him by the weisand. It never let go.
(2) the throat as the source of the voice.Kcd. 1797 Aberdeen Mag. 558:
'Tis true, douse Jock said, it was vain For ane his weason sae to strain.Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 139:
Crackin' t'ye in this odd-fashion'd way, It creeps sae natural up a youthfu' weezon.Ayr. 1912 G. Cunningham Verse 236:
Reuch and roopit's my weazan!Cai. 1916 John o' Groat Jnl. (7 April):
his "wazzin" was silent for ever.Sc. 1928 J. Wilson Hamespun 40:
He may skreigh like John Knox till his weasan' grows hearse.
†3. Combs.: (1) weazon-snicker, a cut-throat; (2) wizzen-wynd, -win, (i) the gullet; (ii) the windpipe. See Wynd, n.1(1) Rnf. 1813 G. MacIndoe Wandering Muse 128:
Auld Carl Grim, the weazon-snicker.(2) (i) Lnk. 1890 J. Coghill Poems 83:
Their stoory wizzen-win's to drook.(ii) Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin iii.:
Giein' twa or three short hoasts to redd his wizzen-wynd.
