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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FUSHION, n. Also f(o)usion; fuzion (Sc. 1856 Life of Dr Wardlaw 457); fushon; fusshen (Ayr. 1878 D. Cuthbertson Rosslyn Lyrics 100); füsjon (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.); foyson; †fozion; fison, fissen, fizzen. Also curtailed form fuze (Ayr. 1900 E.D.D.) and erroneous form furzeon (Ayr. 1811 W. Aiton Agric. Ayr. 692). See also Fushionless. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. foison. [Sc. ′fu:ʒən, occas. ′fʌ-, m.Sc. + ′føʒən, s.Sc. + føʃən]

1. The nourishing or sustaining power of food or drink (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl.; ne.Sc., Per. 1953); pith, sap, succulence, as in plants (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Kcb.⁴ 1900; ne.Sc. 1953). Now only dial. in Eng.Rxb. 1825 Jam.:
What are ye glowran at me for, whan I'm at my meat? Ye'll tak a' the fizzen out o't.ne.Sc. 1884 D. Grant Lays 20:
An' mair nor that, ye've droon't the drink; The fushion o't is oot.em.Sc. (a) 1895 “I. Maclaren” Auld Lang Syne 283:
A dinna think muckle o' beer . . . there's nae fusion in't.Per. 1898 C. Spence Poems 147:
If they [plants] have any useful fushion, Or if they're only fit for pushion.

2. Physical strength, vigour, energy, vitality, force (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B. 14; ne.Sc. 1953); bodily sensation, power of feeling (Id.); durability, of material (ne.Sc. 1953). Obs. in Eng. since early 17th cent.Sc. 1721 J. Kelly Proverbs 326:
The fison of your Hips is loupen to your Lips, you dow not hotch for Hunger. An immodest Expression of young Girls to young Fellows.Abd. 1768 A. Rose Helenore 40:
My threed o' life is worn very sma', . . . . What fusion's in it, I shall frankly ware.s.Sc. 1793 T. Scott Poems 360:
Now I've nowther flesh nor tallow, A' my sap and fushon's gane.Ags. 1814 J. Ross Poems 101:
But gin we lose our bread an brose We'll hae but little fozion.Lth., s.Sc. 1825 Jam.:
The pump has lost the fizzen.Dmf. 1836 A. Cunningham Lord Roldan II. iv.:
Saut water takes a' the fizzen out o' me.Per. 1857 J. Stewart Sketches 71:
He gaunted an' pined an' he tint a' his fusion.m.Sc. 1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood xx.:
He's a dwaibly body wi' nae mair fushion than a thresh.Abd. 1928 J. Baxter A' Ae 'Oo', 18:
Winter! A' the scholars ca'in' Fushion intil thooms w' blawin'.Ags. 1988 Raymond Vettese The Richt Noise 18:
... the feck wad hae that ease
raither than swite i the warsle tae see
Scotland as it is and as it micht be,
or tak intil themsels the fushion o oor past, ... Rs. 1991 Bess Ross Those Other Times 48:
Cis hadn't the fooshion to argue with her. m.Sc. 1994 William J. Rae in James Robertson A Tongue in Yer Heid 114:
Gin the Attendance Officer had taen a thocht, and had socht him wi mair fusion, he micht hae fund him mony a day sittin by the burnie near Fowlie's fairm.

3. Mental or spiritual force or energy, understanding, strength of character (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Per. 1916 Wilson L. Strathearn 247; ne.Sc. 1953); power, potency.Sc. 1732 T. Boston Crook in the Lot (1773) 50:
There will be little foyson in it.Edb. 1772 R. Fergusson Poems (1925) 68:
Before I turn sae toom and shallow, And void of fusion, As a' your butter'd words to swallow.Per. 1817 A. Buchanan Rural Poetry 91:
A friend I am t' the Constitution, Though knaves hae ta'en awa its fusion.Abd. 1832 A. Beattie Poems 143:
The wife here practised mere delusion, That frae puir Saul took a' his fusion.Sc. 1887 Stevenson Underwoods 119:
At lack of a' sectarian füsh'n An' cauld religious destitütion.Kcb. 1895 Crockett Moss-Hags xxxiii.:
There's stuff and fushion in ye, and ye micht even tak' the e'e o' woman.Ags. 1930 A. Kennedy Orra Boughs xxii.:
Whaur's their smeddum, their fushion, their guts?