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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

DOZEN, v., tr. and intr. Also dozin, †dosen, ¶dizan (Bwk. 1880 T. Watts Woodland Echoes 113).

1. tr.

(1) Found only in ppl.adj. dozen(e)d, etc. (sometimes contr. in ne.Sc. to dozen, etc.), stupefied, dazed, impotent; dull, stupid, heavy with sleep (Sh.¹⁰ 1948; Cai. 1900 E.D.D.; Mry.¹ 1925; Bnff.², Abd.⁹, Ags.², Fif.¹⁰, Lnk.¹¹ 1940; Bnff., Fif., Ayr., Dmf. 2000s). Often applied to those whose faculties have deteriorated through age, drink, etc. Also fig. of a fire: sluggish, slow to burn (Abd.²⁷ 1950).Sc. 1728 Ramsay Poems II. 30:
How did he warning to the Dosen'd sing?Sc. 1887 R. L. Stevenson Merry Men iv.:
Charlie, lad, they're a' drunk in yon schooner, a' dozened wi' drink.Ork. 1880 Dennison Sketch-Bk. 101:
Peur dozened tikes! hid is bit seeldams, That coortin' t'rives withoot canteelams.Bnff. 1922 Bnffsh. Jnl. (12 Dec.) 2:
My caul's aboot awa' noo, bit I wis jist sittin' half-dozen't kin', thinkin' aboot aul' times.Bch. 1832 W. Scott Poems 139:
The whole cannallie tak' the street, An' maybe meet some dozen jeet.Dundee 1991 Ellie McDonald The Gangan Fuit 33:
" ... We'll fill the nyaff up wi whisky an waater
wyse up the wife intae takin a pairt,
syne whan he's dozent wi drink, it's nae maitter
tae skaigh back yer arle frae yon bunnet-laird." m.Sc. 1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood 33:
Your heid spins like a peery and your e'en are dozened.em.Sc. 1999 James Robertson The Day O Judgement 7:
Dozent in sinnin sleep they dream,
Their heids ram-fou wi wealth an vice;
Nae thocht that at the warld's ootgang
They'll be debarred frae Paradise.Edb. 1787 W. Taylor Poems 57:
Be gane frae me, ye dozent hawkie.wm.Sc. 1985 Liz Lochhead Tartuffe 9:
Riftin', dozent and weel-fed
He left the empty dishes, socht his bed
Whaur he slept a' nicht unfashed wi' guilt
Fartin' ablow the feather quilt. Ayr. 1792 Burns What can a Young Lassie (Cent. ed.) ii.:
He's doylt and he's dozin.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr Duguid 263:
The last of the Monks, a dozened auld man, . . . lang survived the wreck of the Abbey.Rxb. 1808 A. Scott Poems 65:
Then wae light on the dozen'd coof Wha'd wish nae wife aneath his roof.

(2) To benumb. Found only in ppl.adj. = numb, stiff with cold.Abd. c.1750 R. Forbes Jnl. from London (1755) 29:
The wile limmer was sae dozn'd an' funie'd wi' cauld.Abd. 1900 C. Murray Hamewith 78:
The bairns can hardly bide the dirl O' feet gane dozin.Slg. 1860 R. M. Fergusson Village Poet (1897) 138:
For there's kibes upon your dozened heels, And corns on your toes.Edb. 1788 J. Macaulay Poems 154:
The spirits flag, an' lose their vigour, The heart is dosen'd aye wi' rigour.Wgt. 1804 R. Couper Poems I. 237:
The fare weel-wish'd, the gleed right clear, Your dozin'd veins will thaw.

(3) Used as an imprecation (Abd.⁹ 1940). Cf. dazent s.v. Dazen.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxxvii.:
Dosen't, min, I never thocht o' that.

†2. intr. To be or become cold, numb. Also fig.Sc. 1725 Ramsay Gentle Shepherd Act I. Sc. ii. in Poems (1728):
A Dish of married Love right soon grows cauld, And dosens down to nane, as Fouk grow auld.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xxvi.:
There's no ane to cheer me across the hearthstane, A' the lee winter nicht I maun dozen my lane.Dmb. 1817 J. Walker Poems 89:
An' wife an' wee things apt to dozen, We're aft oblig'd to stap a lozen.

3. Ppl.adj. dozened, -t, of wood, fruit, etc.: rotten (Ags. 1948 (per Abd.²⁷); Per. 1930 (per Fif.¹⁷); Fif.¹⁶ 1948). Also in n.Eng. dial.Sc. 1709 Acct. Late Sc. Invasion (Pamphlet) 25:
200 Pikes, Dozened by long lying. Rnf. 1757 Session Papers, Govan v. Govan (29 Nov.) 29:
The said two sticks were dozen'd and short in the tops.