messan

American  

[mes-uhn] / ˈmɛs ən /

Or messin

noun

Scot.

1. a lapdog; small pet dog.

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Etymology

Origin of messan

First recorded in 1490–1500; from Scots Gaelic measàn “pet”

Example Sentences

Then I spoke to my master, and said that we must strive to buy her a new ape, or a little messan dog, to be her playfellow.

From A Monk of Fife by Lang, Andrew

Burns, on the contrary, was as catholic, or as careless, in his friendships as his own Cæsar—who "Wad spend an hour caressin' Ev'n wi' a tinkler gipsy's messan."

From The Letters of Robert Burns by Burns, Robert

He gave a charge on his lands to a goldsmith at York to pay for my up-bringing, and I verily believe thought no more of me than if I had been a messan dog.

From The Herd Boy and His Hermit by Yonge, Charlotte Mary

Here, sisters, here is my trusty and well-beloved Dame de Ste. Petronelle, who takes such care of me that she dogs my footsteps like a messan.'

From Two Penniless Princesses by Yonge, Charlotte Mary

Hardly a tyke or messan but's awa' to Peden to get her whaulpies named at the Holy Linn!

From The Men of the Moss-Hags Being a history of adventure taken from the papers of William Gordon of Earlstoun in Galloway by Crockett, S. R. (Samuel Rutherford)