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

"They are good enough lads, Sholto and Laurence both, but they will be for ever gnarring and grappling at each other like messan dogs round a kirk door."

From The Black Douglas by Richards, Frank

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)

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

"We hounds slew the hare," quo' the messan.

From The Proverbs of Scotland by Hislop, Alexander

They led three hundred horses forth,    Milk white was every one; But the first sank down like a messan dog    That Swayne laid the saddle on.

From The King's Wake and Other Ballads by Wise, Thomas James