guiser noun originally a mummer, a masquerader; in modern times, one of a party of children who go in disguise from door to door, usually at Halloweeen, offering entertainment in return for gifts or money: ‘Guisers, welcome to the Guisers’ Halloween brought painted faces and weirdly dressed bairns [children] singing songs, reciting Tam o Shanter and doing somersaults. la15-. etymology: Scots; a development from English guise, verb ‘to go about in disguise, or in masquerade dress’; attested by JS and BW |