Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

*(Half-,) Halff-, Halfe-net, n.² [f. *Half n.² In the mod. south-western Sc. dial. as halve-, ha(a)f-net, also halve, haave.] In Dumfriesshire and Galloway: A large bag-shaped net used for fishing in tidal waters when the tide is running. — 1653 Dumfries Kirk S. 18 Aug.
For profaineing the Lords day in fishing with halff netts 1692 Symson Descr. Gall. in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. II. 79–80.
When the tide is ebbing from these banks severall of the countrey people in summer and harvest time use to go a fishing with the halfe net, the forme and use whereof take as follows. They take four peeces of oake [etc.]. . To this they fasten a net much wider than the stales (for so they term the frame of timber). With this at the ebbing of the tide they go into the water, till it comes up to their breast [etc.]. .. From each corner of the net they have a warning string comeing which they hold in their hand. .. And then presently they pull the stale points from the ground, which are instantly wafted to the top of the water, and so catch the fish