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.
Quotation dates: 1814-1927
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GIZZERN, n. Also giz(z)en. Lit. = the gizzard of a fowl (Sh., Cai. 1954), hence also jocularly the human throat (m.Dmf.3 c.1920; Mry.1 Bnff.7 1927; Ags.18 1954, gizzen). Also †gusehorn (Sc. 1808 Jam.), †guzzorn (Sc. 1818 Sawers); guzzern, gu(i)zner (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.), guzzen (Abd.4 1929), ‡geesehorn (Arg. 1936 L. McInnes Dial. S. Kintyre 14), †guizrine, and Sh. forms gjoseren, g(j)øserin, gjüseren, güserin, güzren, gyuiserin. [Sc. ′gɪz(r)ən, ′gʌz-; Sh. ′g(j)yz(ə)rən, ′g(j)øs-, ′dʒ-]Fif. 1814 W. Tennant Trottin' Nanny xiii.:
For frae her curpin to her gizen, She was a' throuther.Sc. 1826 Wilson Noctes Amb. (1855) I. 241:
See how it runs down his gizzern.Slk. 1874 Border Treasury (5 Sept.) 76:
It's past the power o' mortal contrivance to stop the grummlin o' their guizrine.Dmf. 1877 R. W. Thom Jock o' the Knowe 35:
Mony an ancient auld-farrant carlin', Wi' furrowed broo an' sun-burnt gizzen.Lnl. 1890 A. M. Bisset Spring Blossoms 14:
Some keep them [buns] ticht an' hale, while some Sune cram them doon their gizzens.Sh. 1922 J. Inkster Mansie's Röd 110:
"Trivl his [hen's] croppy," I said . . . "Trivl dee gjüseren! Man, doo is a auld ignerint."Ags. 1927 Brechin Advertiser (25 Oct.) 3:
Twa bit straiks — or cuttit wizens, Ceevil war and gapin' gizens!
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"Gizzern n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 3 Mar 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/gizzern>
