Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PASSION, n. Also pashen (Sh. 1898 Shetland News (7 May)), pawshon (Ayr. 1826 Galt Last of Lairds vii.), pawsion (Ayr. 1901 G. Douglas Green Shutters xi.), and erron., patience, patients. Sc. forms and usages in Combs. and Phrs.: 1. ma patience!, an exclamation of wonder, disbelief, exasperation, etc., “goodness gracious!” (Sh., ne.Sc., Ags., Uls. 1965), a misunderstood allusion to the Passion of Christ; 2. patient(s) o' dead, -death, n.comb., the death throes, the last agonies (Sc. 1808 Jam.); 3. passion storm, a period of stormy weather often coming just before Easter- or Passion-tide.1. Gsw. 1877 A. G. Murdoch Laird's Lykewake 77:
An' aye as some new bit o' dress or furniture she saw, She madly crack'd her thoombs, an cried — “Ma patience, that bates a'!”.2. Sc. 1820 Scots Mag. (May) 423:
He [a stag] streek't himsell i' the patients o' dead, Wi' mony a waesome main.Uls. 1924 W. Lutton Montiaghisms 31:
Patient of death. An agonising struggle in which a dying person appears to be just departing, when he unexpectedly revives and lives for a few hours or days.3. Sc. 1954 Scots Mag. (April) 46, 73:
Passion Storm — Buchan fishermen's term for a strong gale which occurs frequently just before Easter.