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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

STACK, n. Also stak(k) (Sh.), stauk (Peb. 1805 J. Nicol Poems I. 137). Dim. stacky (Sc. 1873 C. Swainson Weather Folk-Lore 91). Sc. usages:

1. As in Eng., a pile of grain or other crop. Comb. stack-heid, (the top of) a stack. Also as a v., to build the top of a corn-stack (Rxb. 1920 Kelso Chron. (18 June) 2). Phr. to keep a stack, to trim a stack as it is being built (Arg., Ayr., Wgt. 1971).Ags. 1735 Arbroath T.C. Rec. MS. (23 Jan.):
The eastmost Stackhead of Pease was carryed by John Rolland At five Pounds seventeen shilling the Boll.

2. A regularly-built pile of peats used for fuel, a peat-stack (Sh., Cai., ne.Sc. 1971). Combs. (1) stack-hill, -ald (Ork.), the ground or mound on which a peat-stack is built (Cai., Abd. 1939). Combs. stackald brae, -steethe (Ork. 1971). See Brae, Steid. n.¹, 2.; (2) stack-meels, the fine peat dross which accumulates below a peat-stack (Cai. 1904 E.D.D.). See Muild, n.¹, 4.; (3) stack-mou, that end of a peat-stack from which the peats are drawn for use (Bnff., Abd. 1971). See Mouth, I. 4.(2); (4) stack-stead, the site on which a stack is built (Sh. 1971).Sh. 1892 J. Burgess Rasmie's Büddie 51:
“Geng ta da stack,” “Geng ta da wal.”(1) Cai. 1819 Edb. Ev. Courant (1 April) 4:
That adjoining Dwelling-house . . . with the north-east half of the Garden, Stackhill, Closes, and pertinents thereto.Abd. 1845 Stat. Acc.² XII. 273:
The fuel chiefly used is peat . . . it costs at an average, before it can be laid down on the stack-hill, about 2s. per cart load.(3) Abd. 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb xvii.:
He comes roon by the stack mou'.(4) Sh. 1949 New Shetlander No. 19. 34:
Da stack steads whar da folk biggit dir paets till dey got dem flit hom.

3. A tall column of rock rising out of the sea in front of a cliff of which it had orig. formed part till separated by weathering (Sh. 1866 Edm. Gl., 1914 Angus Gl.; Sh., Ork., Cai., Mry., Bnff. 1971). Also in former Norse parts of England.Cai. 1769 T. Pennant Tour 196:
Near Freswick Castle the cliffs are very lofty. . . . Beneath are great insular columns, called here stacks.Sh. 1821 Scott Pirate xxvii.:
The chasm which separated the small peak, or stack, occupied by Norna's habitation, from the main ridge of cliff and precipice.Sth. 1845 Stat. Acc.² XV. 85:
The immense stocks [sic] or detached Gothic-like pillars at Kerwic bay near Cape Wrath.Sh. 1874 Trans. Highl. Soc. 263:
They are of the form called “stacks,” slender conical spits of gneiss.Ork. 1966 New Orkney Bk. 101:
When two sea-caves on opposite sides of a narrow headland unite, a natural arch is produced. It may persist as such for a time but eventually the arch falls and the sea-ward of the headland remains as an isolated sea-stack.

4. In pl.: a variety of hide-and-seek, played in a stack-yard (Lnk. 1898 A. B. Gomme Games II. 211).