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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

GAISLIN(G), n. Also gaeslin, -en, gezlin(g), †gazling, gaizleen; geslin(g) (Jam.⁶), †geislin, ¶gasleling.

1. A young goose, a gosling (Ags. 1808 Jam., geislin; Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 217; Cai. 1900 E.D.D., gezlin(g); Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., gaeslen; Sh., Cai.⁷, Kcb.¹⁰, Dmf., Rxb.⁴ 1953). Common in n.Eng. dial.Sc. 1737 Ramsay Sc. Proverbs (1776) 41:
If I canna kep geese I'll kep gaislins.Ayr. 1790 A. Tait Poems 111:
So quickly as they'll come alive Like gaslelings young, they'll downward thrive.s.Sc. 1826 Scots Mag. (March) 300:
Well do ye min' that our ain gazlings treaket every ane last spring, and we ha'e naething but the gander and the auld broodie.Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch (1839) iv.:
When I was driving out the gaislings to the grass on the next morn, who was it my ill fate to meet but the blacksmith.Ags. 1834 A. Smart Rhymes 110:
The guse brings a' her gaislins out, To daidle through the dubs.Mry. 1851 D. Paul Poems 85:
He drove the gaislins forth to feed.Abd. 1881 W. Paul Past & Present 151:
Geese an' gaeslins saw I there, An' the fattest o' them'll creesh my beard.Ork. 1911 Old-Lore Misc. IV. iv. 186:
Thu sees he wad be revenged on her 'cis shu stew his gaizleens.

†2. Fig. A foolish, inexperienced person; “a term of disparagement to a child” (Sc. 1818 Sawers).Sc. 1819 Scott Bride of Lamm. xxv.:
Did ever ony man see sic a set of green-gaislings?Sc.(E) 1868 D. M. Ogilvy Willie Wabster 4:
Snash gaislin's mensefullie can win, Gowpens o' gowd, the gowks ca' tin!