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: 1746-1768, 1866-1926
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JIZZEN, n. Also gizzen, gissan. Child-bed. Also attrib. Phr. to lie in jizzen, to lie in, be confined. Now only poet. [dʒɪzn]Abd. 1746 W. Forbes Dominie Depos'd (1765) 32:
Within years less than half a dozen, She made poor Maggy ly in jizzen.Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 12:
The jizzen-bed wi' rantree leaves was sain'd, An' sicklike craft as the auld grandys kend.w.Sc. 1866 R. W. Buchanan London Poems 229:
No doctor's watch tick'd by the jizzen-bed.Abd. 1870 J. Fullerton Ghaist o' Dennilair 4:
A cottar's wife was seized wi' pain On jizzen-bed.Ayr. 1913 J. Service Memorables 195:
The body was in trouble . . . she hersel' new risen oot o' gissan.Sc.(E) 1926 H. M'Diarmid Drunk Man 24:
Mary lay in jizzen As it were claith o' gowd.
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"Jizzen n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/jizzen>
