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messan

American  
[mes-uhn] / ˈmɛs ən /
Or messin

noun

Scot.
  1. a lapdog; small pet dog.


Etymology

Origin of messan

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

"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

Ah!" said Mackenzie, picking up his pen again, "the Glenkens messan!

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)

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

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

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