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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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.

BISMAR, BISMER, BISMORE, Bysmer, n. [′bɪsmər]

1. (See quots.)Sh. 1821 Scott Pirate ix.:
The new factor is for making a change in the bismars and the lispunds.Sh. and Ork. 1866 Edm. Gl.:
Bismer, a steelyard, or instrument for weighing resembling it.Ork. 1793 Stat. Acc.¹ VII. 476–477:
The pundlar and the bismar . . . are a standard of weights peculiar to this country, and have been used here ever since the Danes had possession of this country. . . . The bismar is a smaller weight; and weighs from 1 to 24 merks, which last is denominated a setting or lispund. . . . The bismar is used for weighing butter, and other things.Ork. 1805 G. Barry Hist.Ork. Islands 211:
The bysmer is a lever or beam made of wood, about three feet long. [Used also as in 2, p. 289.]Ork. 1884 (2nd ed.) R. M. Fergusson Rambles xv.:
Gudewife, gae to your butter-ark, . . . An fetch us here ten bismar mark.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Bismar . . . Used for weighing butter, oil, salt, wool, cheese, etc.Ags. 1808 Jam.:
Bismar, bysmer. This term is commonly used in Angus, for a steelyard. [Still known (Ags.² 1934).]

2. (See quots.)Sh. 1932 J. M. E. Saxby Sh. Trad. Lore 201:
“Prigga-troot” and “Bismar” is the stickle-back.Ork. 1866 Edm. Gl.:
Bismer, a species of stickleback.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Bismore, the fifteen-spined stickleback. [Low's Fauna.] “Has its Orkney name from the kind of balance here made use of — called Bismores.” (Gasterosteus spinachia, L.)