An Etymological Dictionary of the Scottish Language
Chapter 77 : BISHOPRY, _s._ Episcopacy, government by diocesan bishops. _Apologet. Relation._ A. S.

BISHOPRY, _s._ Episcopacy, government by diocesan bishops.

_Apologet. Relation._

A. S. _biscoprice_, episcopatus.

BISHOP'S FOOT. It is said, _The Bishop's foot has been in the broth_, when they are singed, S.

This phrase seems to have had its origin in times of Popery, when the clergy had such extensive influence, that hardly any thing could be done without their interference. A similar phrase is used A. Bor. "_The bishop has set his foot in it_, a saying in the North, used for milk that is burnt-to in boiling."

BISKET, _s._ Breast.

V. ~Brisket~.

BISM, BYSYME, BISNE, BISINE, _s._ _Abyss_, gulf.

_Douglas._

Fr. _abysme_, Gr. a?ss??.

BISMAR, BYSMER, _s._ A steelyard, or instrument for weighing resembling it; sometimes _bissimar_, S. B., Orkn.

V. ~Pundlar~.

_Barry._

Isl. _bismari_, _besmar_, libra, trutina minor; Leg. West Goth.

_bismare_, Su. G. _besman_; Teut. _bosemer_, id. stater; Kilian. G.

Andr. derives this word from Isl. _bes_, a part of a pound weight.

BISMARE, BISMERE, _s._

1. A bawd.

_Douglas._

2. A lewd woman, in general.

_Douglas._

"F. ab A. S. _bismer_, contumelia, aut _bismerian_, illudere, dehonorare, polluere," Rudd.

BISMER, _s._ The name given to a species of stickle-back, Orkn.

_Barry._

BISMING, BYISMING, BYISNING, BYSENING, BYSYNT, _adj._ Horrible, monstrous.

V. ~Byssym~.

_Douglas._

BYSPRENT, _part. pa._ Besprinkled, overspread.

_Douglas._

Belg. _besprengh-en_, to sprinkle.

BISSARTE, BISSETTE, _s._ A buzzard, a kind of hawk.

_Acts Ja. II._

Germ. _busert_, Fr. _bussart_, id.

_To_ BYSSE, BIZZ, _v. n._ To make a hissing noise, as hot iron plunged into water, S.

_Douglas._

Belg. _bies-en_, to hiss like serpents.

BISSE, BIZZ, _s._ A hissing noise, S.

_Ferguson._

BYSSYM, BYSYM, BESUM, BYSN, BISSOME, BUSSOME, BYSNING, _s._

1. A monster.

_Houlate._

2. A prodigy, something portentous of calamity.

_Knox._

3. _Bysim_ is still used as a term highly expressive of contempt for a woman of an unworthy character, S.

V. ~Bisming~.