Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1729-1932
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NEESE, v., n. Also neez(e), nise; and iterative form neeze-neeze (Sc. 1935 D. Rorie Lum Hat 42). Now only n. dial. in Eng. [ni:z]
I. v. To sneeze (Sc. 1710 T. Ruddiman Gl. to Douglas Aeneis, 1880 Jam.; Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.; Cai. 1903 E.D.D.; Per. 1915 Wilson L. Strathearn 259; Uls. 1953 Traynor; I. and ne.Sc. 1964). Mainly n. dial. in Eng. since 18th c. Vbl.n. neeshin, (i) sneezing (Sc. 1825 Jam.); (ii) snuff (Ib.). Hence neeshin-mill, a snuff box (Ib.). Cf. Sneesh.Abd. p.1768 A. Ross Fortunate Shep. MS. 113:
As i' the bed about her head she hez'd She rax'd hersell and twice or thrice she neez'd.Sc. 1812 W. Angus Eng. Grammar 342:
What makes you neese so much?m.Sc. 1870 J. Nicholson Idylls 64:
A waff frae the door gars her 'neeze.Sh. 1897 Shetland News (12 June):
Doo's gaun neesin' an' craxin' aboot da hoos laek ane at da hicht o' a mort cauld.Fif. 1912 D. Rorie Mining Folk 399:
If the child "neezes", the correct thing is to say, "Bless the bairn!"Abd.4 1930:
The cat's neezin, it'll be drift.
II. n. A sneeze (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 117; I. and ne.Sc. 1964), sneezing. Also in Cum. dial.Ayr. 1729 J. Stevenson Comforting Cordial 44:
He gave a Neese and Purg'd, and in a Minute was as free of a Fever as ever he was.Abd. p.1768 A. Ross Fortunate Shep. MS. 114:
I'll shortly rise and be as well as ever Yon neeze or twa has cool'd me of the fever.Abd. 1932 R. L. Cassie Scots Sangs 33:
I'm wull amo' the Slavic thrang, I'm deavet wi' "ishtch" an' neeze.
Hence ¶niseless, without snuff, lit. "without a sneeze."Abd. 1824 G. Smith Douglas 92:
O! wertna for Babie we soon wad be niseless.
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"Neese v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/neese>
