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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

GRAYBEARD, n. Also grey-, -baird, dim. -beardie. A large jug or pitcher of varying capacity for holding liquor, made of stoneware or earthenware with a handle at one or both sides and a spout at the other (Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 240). Gen.Sc., now arch. Also attrib, with jar, jug, pig. Also in Eng. dial. Cf. Beardie, n.³Rnf. 1769 Weekly Mag. (25 May) 242:
Ay, wi' my three pint graybeard o' whisky.Sc. 1815 Scots Mag. (May) 394:
After searching the house for some time, they fell upon a large earthenware jar, or grey-beard, containing about five gallons of whisky, concealed in a meal chest.Sc. 1819 Scott Bride of Lamm. xxvi.:
Never had there been such a tapping of barrels, and such uncorking of grey-beards, in the village of Wolf's-hope.Ayr. 1823 Galt R. Gilhaize I. iii.:
A Rotterdam greybeard jug standing by.Fif. 1864 W. D. Latto T. Bodkin xxxiv.:
Mrs Swingletree . . . filled three or four greybeards wi' boilin' water, an' bestowed them roond my body.Abd. 1867 A. Allardyce Goodwife 9:
It's sittin o the aamry skelf, Aside the gray-beard pig.Kcb. 1894 Crockett Raiders xvii.:
There was not a farmer's greybeard between the Lothians and the Solway filled with spirit that had done obeisance to King George.Ags. 1907 D. Tasker Readings 79:
Gudewife, bring the greybeard and “nappy,” An' rax doon the kebbuck an' cake.Knr. 1925 “H. Haliburton” Horace 102:
Hoo cam' this bonnie greybeard here, Sae trimly to the time o' year.Sc. 1954 Scotsman (27 Nov.) 6:
These greybeards, originally made in Holland, were later made in other parts of Europe, including England and Scotland. In Scotland most of them were made in the Prestonpans district in the early eighteenth century. (And in Scotland, by the way, they were used mainly for ale.)