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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

AIXIES, EXIES, Axes, n. The access of an ague; ague; hysterics. Found also in north. Eng. dial. [′eksɪ̢z, ′ɛksɪ̢z]

1. n.Sc. 1816 Scott Antiquary xxxv.:
That silly fliskmahoy, Jenny Rintherout, has ta'en the exies, and done naething but laugh and greet.
Ork. 1700 J. Wallace Descr. I. of Ork. 66:
Commonly in the Spring they are troubled with an Aguish Distemper which they call the Axes.
Edb. 1894 P. H. Hunter J. Inwick xvi.:
Shiverin an' shakin like a man wi' the trem'lin aixies.

2. Comb.: Axes-grass. (See quot.)Ork. 1825 Jam.2 (ref. to Wallace Descr. I. of Ork.):
He subjoins, that to an infusion of buckthorn and other herbs, which they use as a cure, they give the name of Axes Grass.

[A corruption of Eng. access, which in the senses a coming on of illness, an ague-fitague, came from Fr. accès, Lat. access-us, approach. O.Sc. axes, aixis, aixes. First appearance Mont. Flyting a.1585. See D.O.S.T.]

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"Aixies n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 29 Mar 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/aixies>

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