Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BESSIE, BESSY, n.¹

1. “An ill-mannered, romping, or bad-tempered woman or girl; a light-headed girl” (S.D.D. 1911 for Sc.).Bnff. 1866 Gregor D.Bnff.:
Bessie. A virago. Bessik and bessikie are the diminutives.Abd.⁷ 1925:
Bessie. A word used to a person when one is angry: as when a mother in a temper says to her girl, “Ma bessie, gin I hid haud o' ye.”Abd. 1930 Nan Shepherd The Weatherhouse (1988) 202:
'No,' said Paradise, 'that's not a pose. Stella has a warm heart. A bold bessy but a warm heart. ...'

†2. “A kind of squire to a Guizard [q.v.], dressed like a girl” (Sc. 1826 R. Chambers Pop. Rhymes (1870) 169).

3. The female genitals. Cf. keek-a-bessy s.v. Keek. Sc. c.1850 A Few Rare Proverbs:
A gude Paisley tocher-- a Bible and a bessy.