Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

DASK, Daske, n. Sc. forms of Eng. desk, a writing table. Known to Ork.¹, Bnff.², Abd.¹⁹, Ags.¹⁷, Fif.¹⁰, Slg.³ 1939. The following usages are peculiar to Sc. The Eng. form is illustrated only where the usage is unknown in Eng.

1. A church pew, or seat, with book-board (Lnk.³ 1939).Sc. 1885 A. Edgar Old Church Life I. 16:
Down to about the middle of the 17th century, there were very few desks or seats in Church.Abd. 1700 Abd. Burgh Rec. (1872) II. 326:
The said day, the counsell grants warrand to Thomas Mitchell . . . for building ane pew dask in the east end of the old Church.Abd. 1711 A. M. Munro (ed.) Records Old Abd. (1909) II. 121:
Collonell Buchans daske or box seat of his own timber contains sixteen persons at fyve shillings Scotts money per poll.

2. Formerly extended to mean the part of the church to which children were carried for baptism; “also called the lateran, being gen. a large square pew at the side of the pulpit” (Sc. 1900 E.D.D.); specif. the precentor's seat or desk. Comb. desk money, a fee paid for the services of the precentor in making proclamations, etc.Abd. 1845 Stat. Acc.² XII. 212:
The annual amount of monies available for behoof of the poor of the parish is from church collections, on an average £56, . . . and from desk money for proclamation of banns, £4. Ags. 1881 J. S. Neish By-Ways 4:
If ye wad preach an extra sermon that day I'll be i' the dask at four i' the mornin' if ye like.Rnf. 1871 D. Gilmour “Pen” Folk (1873) 38:
Na, na, there maun nae fremt body carry my wee queen to the desk.