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.
Quotation dates: 1826-1877, 1955
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WRIST, n. Also Sc. forms reist, reest; vreest (Abd. 1891 G. W. Anderson Strathbogie 162). Sc. usages. [†rist]
1. As in Eng. Derivs.: (1) dim. wristie, †wristikin, a woollen muff for the wrist, a knitted cuff (Sh. 1974, wristie). Wristikin only in the Carlyles; (2) wristy, a throw in the game of knifie in which the wrist had to be touched before the throw was made (Ags., Lth. 1974).(1) Sc. 1826 Carlyle Love Letters (1909) II. 257:
She has manufactured two pairs of wristikins.Sc. 1851 J. W. Carlyle Letters (Carlyle 1903) II. 35:
I have given her a pair of woollen wristikins.(2) Edb. 1955 Edb. Ev. News (4 Jan.):
Whichever part of the body was touched before plunging the knife into the ground gave its name to the throw. There was "wristy," "chinny," and "chesty," not forgetting "front-heidy," "middle-heidy," and "back-heidy."
2. The instep of the foot (Cld. 1825 Jam., reist).Lnk. 1877 W. McHutchison Poems 65:
My foot is just a five's and half, An' fourteen inches at the least Roun' the heel an' ower the reest.
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"Wrist n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/wrist>
