Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

FEEDER, n. Sc. usages:

1. A cattle animal being fattened for market (ne.Sc., Ags., Lth., Ayr., Dmf. 1951). Also in Eng. dial. and U.S.A.Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xxxii.:
The tither nicht fan the yalla feeder worried on a neep.Abd. 1917 C. Murray Sough o' War 42:
He sits aside me at the mart, an' fan a feeder's sell't Taks doon the wecht, an' leuks the beuk for fat it's worth fan fell't.Abd. 1951 Buchan Observer (27 March):
The “feeders” or fattening bullocks made good progress in a winter of such hardship.

2. A lodger, esp. one boarded out for reasons of physical or mental weakness (Ork.⁵ 1951). Cf. obs. Eng. feeder, a person dependent upon another for his food.

†3. A loser in the game of papes, who has to hand over cherry-stones to the winner (Rxb. 1825 Jam., s.v. feedow).