Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1745-1925
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RIZZER, v., n. Also riz(z)ar, rizer, riser; ¶rozar. [′rɪzər]
I. v. 1. To dry, parch or cure e.g. fish by exposing to the rays of the sun (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Kcd., Ags., Fif., Bwk. 1968). Freq. in ppl.adj. rizzar(e)d, dried, parched (s.Sc. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry Gl.; Fif. c.1850 R. Peattie MS.; Ags.8 1936); specif. of a haddock: sun-dried (Sc. 1798 Monthly Mag. II. 436; Uls. 1906) of the soil: dried by the sun so as to be lighter in colour.m.Lth. c.1745 Abd. Jnl. N. & Q. III. 210:
To Rozard ffish . . . 1s. 2d.Sc. 1773 Boswell Hebrides (1936) 37 note:
We found a good supper . . . rissered haddocks and mut[ton] chops.Sc. 1819 Scott Leg. Montrose xiii.:
Strung up by the head like rizzered haddocks.Sc. 1844 H. Stephens Bk. Farm III. 744:
After the soil on the top of the drills has become a little browned with the sun, or rizzared, as it is technically phrased.Abd. 1877 G. Macdonald M. of Lossie I. iii.:
Come an' tak' yer supper wi' me the nicht — a rizzart haddie an' an egg.Ayr. 1887 J. Service Dr. Duguid 88:
Tinkler hizzies, with basketfu's of speldrins, rizzard haddies, and ither fish on their heads.Sc. 1893 Stevenson Catriona xii.:
He engaged the goodwife with some compliments upon the rizzoring of our haddocks.Fif. 1905 S. Tytler Daughter of Manse i. iii.:
A boiled salt, or a rizzered red herring.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 19:
The bruizzin, frizzlin heat turns frush things tewd an rizzert.
2. To dry clothes in the sun, to air them (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; em.Sc. 1968). Ppl.adj. rizar(e)d, sun-dried, thoroughly aired (Rxb. 1825 Jam.; Dmf. 1894 Trans. Dmf. & Gall. Antiq. Soc. 153; em.Sc. 1968).
3. In ppl.adj. rizzared, of the skin: puckered or shrivelled on a wound, esp. a burn (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.).
II. n. 1. A drying, esp. in the heat of the sun (Sc. 1808 Jam.).
2. A lightly-salted, half-dried haddock.Sc. 1827 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 351:
We'll ring when we want the rizzers.
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"Rizzer v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/rizzer>
