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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

PICKER, n. Sc. usages: 1. in Weaving: a person employed to cut off any loose or protruding threads from the web (Fif. 1930; Ayr. 1965). See Pick, v.¹, 7.Rnf. 1818 G. Crawfurd Gen. Descr. Rnf. 336:
The number of different hands employed in making a single article of any of these [Paisley shawls and plaids] is 11; namely, the dyer, winder, warper . . . picker, washer, dresser.

2. In Mining: comb. craw-picker. see Craw, n.¹, IV. D. 10.

3. In the fishing industry: one of the persons engaged in the cleaning and preparation of fish for the market (see quot.).Kcd. 1883 Fish and Fisheries (Herbert) 108:
The fish are then thrown into fresh cold water, and thence removed after a few minutes' soak by the “picker,” who, with a small sharply-pointed knife, strips off any small adhering portions of sound, and slacks the blood coagulated on the bone.

4. In a saw-mill: the man who takes the sawn timber from behind the finishing or running-off saw and arranges it according to size (ne.Sc., Ags. 1965). See also Tailsman.Abd. 1952 Abd. Press & Jnl. (1 Sept.):
Sawmill Tailsman and Picker Wanted for Monymusk Sawmill.Abd. 1963:
In the old days it was also the picker's job to empty the sawdust pit and keep the sawmill clear of waste, but in the more modern sawmills a picker's work is now more similar to that of a tailsman or sorter.

5. A sharp piece of metal used to trim the wick of a miner's lamp (Sc. 1886 J. Barrowman Mining Terms 50). Hence picker-lamp, a lamp using this type of mechanism (see quot.).e.Lth. c.1800 P. McNeill Tranent (1884) 45:
The first sort of lamp used in the district was called the Picker lamp. This was made to fit into a circular piece of iron, to which was attached six or eight inches of the same metal sharpened at the point. This the miner forced into the wall-side . . . The sharp point was also used as a picker for trimming the lamp, hence its name. Oil was burned in these lamps.

6. A young cod, too small to swallow bait; a young coalfish (Uls. 1953 Traynor).Ags. 1895 F. A. Steel Red Rowans x.:
I believe . . . pickers or suckers is really only the local name for young codlings, lythe, or cuddies.