Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1817-1825
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PEYSLE, n. Also peyzle, pys(s)le, peisle (Jam.); peasle. “Any small tool used by a rustic” (Rxb. 1825 Jam., peyzle); a trifle, a thing of little value (Ib., pyssle). In pl., odds and ends, “a small article carried about by one in travelling” (Slk. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XI. 140). Also attrib., = negligible, puny, as in 1817 quot. Adj. comb. weel-peisled, -pyslit, comfortably off, in easy circumstances, well endowed with this world's goods. [pəisl, pəizl]Ayr. 1817 D. McKillop Poems 133:
My curse upon his peasle-shanks, Frae hip to tae.Rxb. 1825 Jam.:
Robin Tod's a bien, fou, weel-peislet bodie.
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"Peysle n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 4 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/peysle>
