haggis

plural haggises · alternative obsolete haggess · alternative obsolete haggies · alternative obsolete haggiss

1. countableuncountableA traditional Scottish dish made from minced sheep offal with oatmeal and spices, etc., originally boiled in the stomach of a sheep but now often in an artificial casing, and usually served with neeps and tatties (mashed swede and potatoes) and accompanied with whisky.

   And thank kind heav'n, their country can afford / A tumid haggeſs to adorn their board.

   [1769], [John Maclaurin, Lord Dreghorn], “The Disappointed Epicures”, in Essays in Verse, [Edinburgh]: [Privately printed at the author's press], →OCLC, page 78

   5 more examples

   HAGGESS, haggas, or haggis, ſort d'appret fait avec des herbes, du larde caupé menu, des épices, des œufs, & du fromage, le tout mis enſemble & bouilli dans une panſe de brebis.

   HAGGESS, haggas, or haggis, a sort of preparation made with herbs, bacon, spices, eggs, cheese, all put together and boiled in a sheep's belly.

   [1677, Guy Miege [i.e., Guy Miège], “HAGGESS”, in A New Dictionary French and English, with Another English and French; According to the Present Use, and Modern Orthography of the French. Inrich’d with New Words, Choice Phrases, and Apposite Proverbs; Digested into a Most Accurate Method; and Contrived for the Use Both of English and Foreiners (in French), London: Printed by Tho[mas] Dawks, for Thomas Basset, at the George, near Cliffords-inn, in Fleetstreet, →OCLC, column 3

   I congratulate the Caledonians on the acquiſition of this new Saint, but wonder if the German crows were ſo civil to refrain from ſo ſavoury a Scotch haggiſs.

   1717 January 16 (Old Style), Lady Mary W. Montague [i.e. Lady Mary Wortley Montagu], “Original Letter of Lady Mary W. Montague, Never before Published. Found Lately amongst the Papers of a Lady Deceased.”, in The Scots Magazine; or General Repository of Literature, History, and Politics, volume LXI (volume VI, New Series), Edinburgh: [Printed by Alex[ander] Chapman and Co.] Sold by James Watson, No. 40. South Bridge, and by the principal booksellers in Town and Country and by T. Kay, Strand, London, published February 1799, →OCLC, pages 101–102

   "[…] You are all for providing other things before we have fixed upon the victuals. Let us ſettle about them firſt." / This word raiſed a tumult, ten times greater than the former; every one in the room roaring out at once for ſome particular diſh, either that it was his trade to provide, or which he was fond of himſelf. / […]—"An haggis,"—ſaid a Scot. / —"Leek-pottage,"—ſputtered Taffy. In a word, they all raiſed their voices with ſuch vehemence, not one attending to what another ſaid, that ſince the building of Babel, there was not ſuch a ſcene of confuſion.

   1762, [Charles Johnstone], The Reverie; or, A Flight to the Paradise of Fools. By the Editor of The Adventures of a Guinea. In Two Volumes, volume II, Dublin: Printed by Dillon Chamberlaine, in Smock-alley, →OCLC, page 185

   The Haggies is that very diſh (if I may ſo call it) and a very good diſh it is. […] [W]henever inſtead of the paunch, refinement ſhall invent a veſſel, in which to ſerve up the Haggies, it will certainly reſemble in its model the original prototype, whether it be formed into a turrene or a ſilver vaſe, having the ſinged head as ornamented handles to the ſides.

   1778 February 5, Thomas Pownall, “XXXII. Observations Arising from an Enquiry into the Nature of the Vases Found on the Mosquito Shore in South America.”, in Archaeologia: Or Miscellaneous Tracts Relating to Antiquity, volume V, London: Published by the Society of Antiquaries of London; sold at the house of the Society, in Chancery-Lane; and by Messieurs White, Robson, Conant, Leigh and Sotheby, Brown and H. Payne, published 1779, →OCLC, page 322

   [T]he thousands of Englishmen who annually visit our romantic country can attest, that, even in the wildest Highland glens, something better can be found for their roast-beef stomachs, than sheep's-heads, haggises, and oat-meal cakes.

   1821 October, “The Voyages and Travels of Columbus Secundus. Chapter XIII. The King’s Birth-day.”, in Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine, volume X, number LVI, Edinburgh: William Blackwood; London: T[homas] Cadell, Strand, London, →OCLC, footnote, page 305

1. pluralplural of haggi (“one who has participated in a hajj”) (alternative spelling of hajjis).

plural Haggises

1. A surname.

   1 more example

   Primarily seen as a publicity vehicle for late-year releases, the awards show and its promoters have lately made pretensions to Oscar oracling: Jamie Foxx won the “breakthrough actor of the year” prize for “Ray” in 2004, after all, and Paul Haggis and his ensemble cast were honored for “Crash” four months before it won best picture.

   2006 October 18, David M. Halbfinger, “Hollywood Film Chain’s Latest Link”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 21 Jun 2025