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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SETTLE, v., n.¹ For Sc. forms see Sattle.

Sc. usages:

I. v. 1. As in Eng. Ppl.adj. settled, compar. settleder (ne.Sc. 1970); vbl.n. settlin, a reduction to silence or submission, a quietus. Combs.: settle-gear, money placed at interest, a variant of and phs. a mistake for sette-gear s.v. Set, v., 16. (2) (Dmf. 1819 Hogg Jacobite Relics II. 36); settle-grace, a “settler”, a crushing retort, an answer which reduces an opponent to silence. Phrs. to settle up, to give cattle their final feed and bedding for the night; settlin brose, = settle-grace above (Ayr. 1970).Ayr. 1786 Burns Halloween xxiv.:
But Och! that night, amang the shaws, She gat a fearfu' settlin!Ags. 1840 G. Webster Ingliston xxx.:
I fand mysel' a wee settleder.Abd. 1888 D. Grant Keckleton 46:
In the winter forenichts, aifter the bestial was settled up.Bwk. 1949:
I gied him his settlegrace.

2. Sc. Church usage, of a Presbytery: to instal (a minister) formally in a charge, to ratify a minister's appointment to (a parish). See Settlement, 2.Sc. 1709 W. Steuart Collections i. i. § 32:
By the 9th Act of Assembly 1699, Ministers and Probationers having the Irish language, are not to be settled in the Low-Country, till the High-Land places be first provided: . . . Presbyteries are to be censured, who settle any Probationer in the South. who was born on the North side of Tay.Sc. 1719 R. Wodrow Corresp. (1843) II. 448:
The Presbytery of Ayr are appointed . . . to go on and settle the parish.Sc. 1773 Boswell Johnson (1934) II. 242:
In some cases the Presbytery having refused to induct or settle, as they call it, the person presented by the patron, it has been found necessary to appeal to the General Assembly.Sc. 1803 G. Hill Theol. Institutes 197:
Patronage affords the most expedient method of settling vacant parishes.Sc. 1874 Acts 37 & 38 Vict. c.82. § 3:
The ministers appointed, admitted, and settled in terms of this Act.

II. n. 1. The state of being settled or at ease; peace, quietness. Phr. to tak settle, to settle down, be tranquil.Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 39:
Frae the settle o' the night To the income o' the light.Ags. 1889 Barrie W. in Thrums xvi.:
I'll tak no settle till ye're awa.

2. Set, build, compactness.Ayr. 1822 H. Ainslie Pilgrimage 190:
In the stouchy settle of his trunk there were broad marks both of pith and power.