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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.

†GIZZ, JIZ(Z), n. Also giz, jeez, jees, jaz, gez. [dʒɪz, dʒi:z]

1. A wig. Common in dim. forms. Also in n.Cy. dial.Edb. 1773 R. Fergusson Poems (1925) 28:
Rob Gibb's grey gizz, new frizzl'd fine, Will white as ony snaw-ba' shine. [Ib. 42, gez.]Ayr. 1786 Burns Mauchline Wedding v.:
His shouthers and his Sunday's jiz Wi' powther and wi' ulzie Weel smear'd that day. [Add. to Deil xvii., gizz.]Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems 239:
Syn set his jizzy, And said, we, yet, mith meet sic fate, Gin we were busy.Dmf. 1808 J. Mayne Siller Gun 90:
Wae's me for Deacon Ronald's jeezy, That sat sae orthodox and easy!Sc. 1818 S. E. Ferrier Marriage II. iii.:
An' kent ye nae that Benenck had his auld white pow shaven, an' that he's gettin' a jeezy frae Edinburgh?Sc. 1824 Blackwood's Mag. (July) 88:
Great care must be taken that you do not leave your hair in . . . three-decker style, like the formal and formidable jazy of the minister of the parish.Sc. 1849 A. Bell Melodies 69:
I had rantit an' routit the best o' them a', An' rade in my coach, wi' my Jeezy sae braw.

Comb.: gezy-maker, a wig-maker.Edb. 1773 R. Fergusson Poems (1925) 49:
How haps it, say, that mealy bakers, Hair-kaimers, crieshy gezy-makers, Shou'd a' get leave to waste their powders Upon my beaux and ladies shoulders?

2. The face, countenance; “a cant term” (Jam.²).Bch. 1804 W. Tarras Poems 107:
What means the fizz, That ye shaw sic a frightfu' gizz?Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin ix.:
An aggravatin' smirk o' sarcasm mantlin' ower his time-tarnished gizz.Sc.(E) 1938 Gsw. Herald (29 Jan.) 4:
Aince as I gaed attour a brig I met a man, wi' a gaucy gizz.