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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

JOT, v, n. Also jott. [dʒɔt]

I. v. 1. To write down hastily and briefly, to make a short note (of) (Sc. 1808 Jam.). Orig. Sc. but familiarised in Eng. in 19th c. by Scott and other Sc. writers. Gen. with down, but also with out.Sc. 1735 Ramsay Poems (1877) I. 259:
What will they have to crack about, Or jot into their journal?Abd. 1746 Monymusk Papers (S.H.S.) 170:
Keep a lead pencil & pocket book to jot down mem: of what is observed.Ayr. 1822 Galt Provost xxxv.:
The domestic effects of many of the things which I have herein jotted down.Sc. 1827 Scott Journal (12 Feb.):
I have jotted down his evidence elsewhere.Sc. 1835 T. T. Stoddart Sc. Angler 125:
We deem it sufficient merely to jot out rapidly the principal points of attraction to the angler.Ags. 1857 “Inceptor” Tom of Wiseacre 14:
You can jot it down if you please.Mry. 1883 F. Sutherland Sunny Memories 59:
But rhymin', uncle, 's simply rot, For ony calf can clink an' jot, Wi' half a lug.

Hence (1) jot-book, a rough note-book; (2) jotter, -ar, (a) one who takes rough notes (see 1827 quot. under (1)); (b) a note, memorandum, excerpt; (c) also joattur, = (1), now esp. applied to a pupil's rough exercise book (Abd., Ags., Edb., Gsw., Ayr., Dmf., Rxb. 2000s). Gen.Sc. Also attrib. Dim. jottery; (d) (i) phr. to get one's jotters, to get the sack (Sh., Bnff., Abd., Ags., Fif., Edb., Gsw., Ayr., Dmf. 2000s). Also fig.; (ii) phr. to get (someone) their jotters, to give (someone) the sack (Sh., Bnff., Abd., Ags., Edb., Gsw., Ayr., Dmf. 2000s); (3) jotting, = (2) (b).(1) Sc. 1796 Session Papers, Scott v. Stewart (12 May) 5:
It was usual to put down a memorandum of them in two jot-books.Sc. 1827 Blackwood's Mag. XXII. 451:
All the jottings that ever were jotted down on his jot-book, by the most inveterate jotter.(2) (b) Cai. 1773 Session Papers, State of Process, Sinclair v. Sinclair 21:
He cannot be certain, as he has not the jotter of the sowing he made then of these lands, about him.Abd. 1882 W. Forsyth Writings 19:
The Major took a strong protest, An' o' the minute claim't a jottar.(c) ne.Sc. 1824 William Mackie compiler, ed. David Stevenson The Diary of a Canny Man (1991) 65:
6th October, 1824
Have been employed a good part of this day finishing warnist. In the evening bringing up some accounts in old jotter book. Abd. 1854 Justiciary Reports (1855) 428:
Not book-keeping, only a jotter, only a memorandum; every one keeps a jotter as he likes.Ags. 1870 A. Paul Incidents 116:
She invariably carried a muff, and in that muff was what she called her jottery, which consisted of a roll or scroll of paper about two feet long, and which contained a note of every case she had to speak of.Sc. 1915 A. S. Neill Dominie's Log xii.:
Neatness of method and penmanship in copy-book and jotter.Clc. 1925 Dollar Mag. (March) 48:
All books except exercise books and jotters are supplied by the school.Arg. 1952 N. Mitchison Lobsters on the Agenda iii.:
“Give me a jotter, will you?” He took one out of the [schoolroom] cupboard and handed it over.Rnf. 1986 John Mitchell Class Struggle 111:
... all of them designed to last for approximately three periods of work before the clarion call arose:"Surr! Ah need a new joattur!" Sc. 1990 Esther Woolfson in Hamish Whyte and Janice Galloway New Writing Scotland 8: The Day I Met the Queen Mother 146-7:
I wrote it all down in my jotter in a Kandinsky dictated formula: significance, important things to remember, blessings, food we eat, learn for next week.(d) (i) Rnf. 1972 Bill Bryden Willie Rough 26:
He'll just hav tae watch he disnae get 'is jotters ... or worse ...Gsw. 1985 Anna Blair Tea at Miss Cranston's 37:
I was in a factor's office when I came back from the war and there was an old twister there who ran his own wee racket; taking key money when folk were desperate for houses to rent. The boss Willie Ross caught him and he got his jotters.Sc. 1996 Herald 21 Feb 15:
In the real world the Royal Bank of Scotland is four fifths of its way through a five-year redundancy plan which will make 3500 managers and other employees redundant. ... When you get your jotters, the letter now says proudly that the Royal Bank are "Investors in People", which is almost as apposite as their advertising slogan: "Where People Matter".Gsw. 1996 Herald 26 Jul 25:
Here are a few others: downsizing, thinning-out, natural wastage. Now for a cruder few: the dan mac, the P45, yer jotters pal. And what happens when unemployment lays its grisly finger upon hitherto productive workers?m.Sc. 1998 David Millar in Donny O'Rourke and Kathleen Jamie New Writing Scotland 16: The Glory Signs 119:
And we'd worked together once. Not for long, because you got your jotters after two and a half weeks. And what the fuck was all that about anyway.Sc. 2003 Sunday Herald 17 Aug 19:
The humble school uniform has inspired a host of designers for the autumn/winter season. Just don't do the Britney look; lip gloss and pigtails will get you your jotters.(ii) Gsw. 1990 Alan Spence The Magic Flute (1991) 92:
'Ya shitefaced orange bastard ye! I've a good mind to get you your jotters for this!'(3) Peb. 1733 C. B. Gunn Linton Church (1912) 130:
The jottings of his debursements ought to be sustained.Sc. 1796 Session Papers, Scott v. Stewart (13 Oct.) 9:
Two books of jottings, which it was said contained a state of the money-transactions between the pursuer and Wood.Sc. 1814 Scott Waverley lxxi.:
Tut, your honour! I'll mak a slight jotting the morn.Sc. 1830 A. Hill Pract. Ch. Scot. 37:
The jottings, from which the minutes are made up.

2. To employ oneself with light work, to potter. Gen. with advs. aboot, aroon (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 92; ne.Sc. 1959).Bnff. 1893 G. G. Green Kidnappers xi.:
Robb Scott, who was jotting about the place.Bnff. 1920 Banffshire Jnl. (14 Dec.):
The aul' man jots aroon wi' staff in han'.Abd. 1922 Wkly. Free Press (28 Jan.) 3:
I can dee little in synauve bit sit aboot th' fire or jot aboot th' toon.

II. n. A job, an occasional piece of work, small task; light work of any description, esp. domestic work (Abd. 1790 A. Shirrefs Poems, Gl.). Gen. in pl., odd jobs, odds and ends (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 92; ne.Sc. 1959).Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 46:
Poor Colen's honest wife, her leefu' lane: Nae jot intil her hand, but greeting sair.Mry. 1820 J. Cock Hamespun Lays 122:
I fear she'll puirly mak a shift, Wi' jots o' wark o' ony thrift.Abd. 1880 G. Webster Crim. Officer 49:
Till they cam' doon fae the Heilan's grown men they hed never wrocht a jot.Abd. 1900 C. Murray Hamewith 80:
An' soon the day's last jot is past, Milk sey'd an' set.Bnff. 1955 Banffshire Jnl. (12 April):
Short Saturday an' a' the lang jots! Gin we a' work, the jots'll get deen an' the hoose redd up for the Sabbath.