bismarn.
/ˈbɪsmə/, U.S. /ˈbɪsmər/, /ˈbɪsˌmɑr/, Scottish English /ˈbɪsmər/ Scottish dialect.
1. A kind of steelyard used in the north-east of Scotland, and in Orkney and Shetland.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > measurement > measurement by weighing > equipment for weighing > [noun] > a weighing apparatus > steelyard
statera?a1560
pundler1575
Roman balance1585
Roman beam1611
stelleer1611
Venice beam1611
steelyard1639
bismar1701
Roman steelyard1730
staff-bismara1733
weigh-beam1804
1701 J. Brand Brief Descr. Orkney, Zetland 28 They not useing Peck and Firlot, but in stead thereof, weigh their Corns on Pismires or Pundlers.
1805 G. Barry Hist. Orkney ii. v. 212 The bysmer is made use of for ascertaining the weight of butter, oil, salt, wool.
1814 Statist. Acc. Scot. VII. 563 (Kirkwall) The instruments they have for the purpose of weighing, are two in number; and the one of them is called a pundlar and the other a bismar.
1880 Tylor in Academy 18 Sept. 204/1 A rude kind of steelyard or bismar, to weigh out pounds of cheese with.
2. The fifteen-spined stickle-back: (see quot.).
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1805 G. Barry Hist. Orkney iii. i. 289 The Fifteen-spined Stickleback (gasterosteus spinachia)..is here denominated the bismer, from the resemblance it is supposed to bear to the weighing instrument of that name.
1859 J. Richardson Yarrell's Hist. Brit. Fishes (ed. 3) I. 101 Bismore.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1887; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1701