Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1910-1933, 1985-1993
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BEEZER, Beeser, n. Used, as Beez,n., by children; also gen. to mean a smart fellow, or anything bigger or finer than usual; something extreme of its kind (Sh., Ork., Bnff., Abd., Ags., Edb., Arg., Gsw. 2000s). Also attrib. [′bi:zər]Sc. 1927 W. Chapman in Scots Mag. (Aug.) 328:
I'm meanin' serial films — no' stories. I ance saw a beezer. It was ca'd "Vera the Vampire of Paris."e.Rs.1 1929:
Beezer, an uncommonly effective person; also "a beezer of a blow," etc. — i.e. a most effective blow, etc.Bnff.2 1930:
The neeps werena a great crap, bit there wiz some beezers amo' them.Abd. 1929 Abd. Press and Jnl. (11 Feb.):
To be quite honest there was a thumping crop [of potatoes] and lots of "beezers."Abd. 1993:
What a beezer o a tattie!Ags. 1988 Raymond Vettese The Richt Noise 84:
Carties oot o orange-boxes
an' pram wheels. Auld bed-springs,
booncers, tethert til the feet.
Boolies knockit wi a skirl frae chalkit rings
an' beezer conkers crackt owre soon,
flin'ert on tirlin strings.Slg.1 1933:
It was a beezer — i.e. a knock-out blow.Edb.2 1933:
Your bool was a beezer.Edb. 1990:
It's a beezer the day.Arg.1 1929:
Here's a beezer comin' [a big wave].Gsw. 1985 Michael Munro The Patter 10:
beezer An extremely cold, icy day: 'I'm no goin oot the day, it's a beezer alright.'w.Dmf. 1910 J. L. Waugh Cracks wi' Robbie Doo (1914) 110:
Weel dune, Robin Hood; dash it, man, but you're a beeser.
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"Beezer n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 4 Feb 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/beezer>
