Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1804-1957
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HISH, v., int.1, n. Also hysch (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 85); heesh (Sc. 1911 S.D.D. Add.), heeshty; hiss, his(t). Cf. Hisk; Isk, Iss. [hɪʃ, hiʃ(ti), hɪs(t)]
I. v. To make a hissing sound in order to drive (an animal) away or to scare birds (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.; I. and ne.Sc., Fif., m.Lth., Dmf. 1957) or to incite, e.g. a dog, to attack (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.; Cai., Inv., m.Lth., Ayr., Gall. 1957). Also used fig.Rxb. 1811 A. Scott Poems 135:
The lav'rock, the peasweep, and skirlin' pickmaw, Shall hiss the bleak winter to Lapland awa.Abd. 1920 C. Murray Country Places 1:
He'd the rabbits to feed an' the fulpie to kame An' the hens to hish into the ree.m.Lth.1 1957:
He hished his dug ontae ma dug. It was him that hished him on.
II. int. Ss!, a sharp hissing call to drive off animals, or to incite a dog to attack (Sc. 1877 Jam., hiss; Abd.4 1925, heesh, hish; Sh., Cai. (hiss), m.Lth., Kcb. (hiss), Uls. 1957).Bch. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 60:
He's play'd my dochter Meg a skyte, Which weel has coft the gibbet; Hiss tak him, Niekie, ti yir vout.Wgt. 1877 G. Fraser Sketches 276:
The housewife observing him, shook out her apron, saying, "Hish! awa."Lnk. 1881 A. Wardrop J. Mathisons' Courtship 9:
What's the use o' sittin' sighin' here — hist awa' bye, Rover.Bnff. 1893 G. G. Green Kidnappers ii.:
He not unfrequently on the sly sent his brindled mastiff "Laddie" after them as they passed Balgray on their way to church, with a "hiss, tak' thae Seceders!"Ayr. 1912 D. McNaught Kilmaurs 283:
"Shoo!" said Jenny . . . "shoo! gae 'wa', beast! heesh!"Sc. 1935 D. Rorie Lum Hat 67:
Heeshty! Heeshty! Oot amang my feet!
Hence his(s) (tae) (cat), hish cat, hist-a-cat, a call to frighten away a cat, or incite a dog to chase it (Sc. 1901 N.E.D., hist-a-cat); fig. a warning.Lnk. 1806 J. Black Falls of Clyde 107:
I threw my bonnet at her which did miss, And cried, hiss tae cat! plague on ye! hiss!Abd. 1881 W. Paul Past and Present 49:
Giving the cat a smart stroke on the nose [he] said, . . . "that's worth a score o' your 'hish cats,' sir."Abd.15 1924:
I'se gie ye a rinkum ower the riggin; an' that'll mebbe be as gweed's twa or three hiss-cats tae ye, ye nickum!
III. n. A rebuff, discouragement.Per. 1857 J. Stewart Sketches 44:
Feth, lads, this day he'd tak' a hiss ill.
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"Hish v., interj.1, n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/hish_v_interj1_n>
