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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BIZZIE, BIS(S)I, Baessy, n.1 [′bɪzi, ′bɪsi, ′besi]

1. Bedding for cattle (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.). Cf. Buss, n.4Sh. 1899 J. Spence Sh. Folk-Lore 145:
The cow is resting on the bizzie, unable to rise or eat.Sh.7 1934:
Wir sholmit [white-headed] coo is surely no very weel, sho's lyin' pechin i' da bizzie.Ork. 1887 Jam.6:
Bizzie. Bedding for a cow.

2. (See quot.)Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
Bisi, bissi . . . in transferred sense of: (a) poor, damp bed, and (b) heap; mass; dunghill.

Comb.: bis(s)ifla, baessy-flaas. (See quots.)Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl.:
Baessy-flaas, litter for cattle, composed of heather and dry earth.Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
Bis(s)ifla, one of the layers composing the cow's bis(s)i or litter in the stall.

[Norw. bøs(s), rubbish; Norw. dial. bos, bus, bys, litter, straw; Idg. *bhus, to swell (Falk and Torp). For fla(a), cf. Icel. flaa, O.E. flēan, to flay.]

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