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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

WISSEL, v., n. Also wis(s)le, wistle, -el; whissil, whissle, whistle, whasle, whusle. [wɪsl]

I. v. 1. To exchange, barter (Cai. 1974), specif. to exchange words with (a person), talk to (Per. 1825 Jam.), to quarrel with (Cai. 1905 E.D.D.).ne.Sc. 1802 Edb. Mag. (July) 56:
Now, fient a word wi' me they'll wistle.Ags. 1819 A. Balfour Campbell I. xviii.:
He sware a gryte aith, that he wad never wissle words wi' him till he changed his mind.

2. To change money, give out change (Sc. 1721 Ramsay Works (S.T.S.) I. Gl.); to spend. Phrs. to wisle one's groat, to spend money, specif. on drink. the wisling of one's groat, one's money's worth, what one can get for one's money. Cf. II. 1.Abd. 1729 S.C. Misc. (1940) II. 129:
We lighted at the Mermaid, where were a great many highland viragos, where the Dr. I believe got the wisling of his groat.Sc. 1799 J. Adams Pronunc. Eng. 155:
The Southern visitor laughs, when he hears the Northern inhabitant cry out, whisle, whasle, or whusle me a guinea.Mry. 1810 J. Cock Simple Strains 117:
An' for a wee to banish care By wislin o' my groat.Abd. 1832 A. Beattie Poems 135:
To turn the penny o'er the plack, In wisselling o' the penny arles.

3. To wager, bet (Ags. 1808 Jam., wistel).

II. n. 1. Change given for money tendered (Sc. 1808 Jam.). Phrs. to get the wissel of one's groat, — plack, fig., to be paid in one's own coin, to get one's just deserts.Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 162:
Nor can we wyt them, since they had our Vote; But now they'se get the Wistle of their Groat.Sc. 1728 Misogynean Club Exposed 8:
[They] got the Whissil of their Plack.Ayr. 1784 Burns Ep. to J. Rankine ix.:
So gat the whissle o' my groat, I scorn,d to lie, An' pay't the fee.Ags. 1822 A. Balfour Farmers' Three Daughters III. x.:
She'll get the wissel o' her groat at the lang run.Lnk. a.1832 W. Watt Poems (1860) 37:
I threaten'd I wad lay the lad in jail — Whilk gart him draw his purse his name to save, Else I had got the whistle o' my groat.

2. A bet, wager.Wgt. 1912 A.O.W.B. Fables 97:
“I'll lay a wissel,” said the Tortoise, “noo That I sal reak yon point as sune as you.”