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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1974 (SND Vol. IX). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

TABLET, n. Also taiblet; ¶tablement. Sc. usage: a confection, composed of sugar, butter and flavouring, orig. a sweet of the candy sort but now of a firmer crisper consistency suitable for cutting into squares or tablets and sometimes made with sweet condensed milk, fudge (Ork., Cai., m.Sc. 1972; Sh., Ork., Cai., Bnff., Ags., Fif., Edb., Arg., Gsw., Ayr., Dmf., Rxb. 2000s); a square or chunk of this. [′tablət, ‡′te-]Sc. 1736 Mrs. McLintock Receipts 35:
To make Orange Tablets with the Grate. Grate the Oranges, take 2 lb. of Sugar, and a Mutchkin of Water, then clarify it with the White of 2 Eggs, and set it on a slow Fire, and boil it till it be almost candyed, then put in the Grate of the Oranges, and take white Paper, rub it with fresh Butter, pour it on your Paper, and cut it in little Pieces.Sc. 1747 Caled. Mercury (1 June):
Gellies, Marmalade, Tablets, Barley Sugar.Mry. c.1840 Lays & Leg. (Douglas 1939) 14:
Black-sugar, tablets, sugar candy, An' barley-sugar, clear as brandy.Sc. 1850 Mrs Dalgairns Practice Cookery 347:
Ginger tablet may be made in this way.Gsw. 1900 J. J. Bell Wee Macgreegor 1:
I want taiblet.Fif. 1909 J. C. Craig Sangs o' Bairns 125:
Dates or locust, grapes or figs, Tablement in bits.Gsw. 1980 Christine Marion Fraser Blue Above the Chimneys (1985) 54:
Kirsty, adept in the art of making tablet, shut herself into the scullery to stir delicious smelling concoctions till her arms ached. Sc. 1998 Sunday Times 12 Jul :
Real vanilla ice cream has ensured that visitors keep returning to Biggar, as does home-made tablet, fudge and chocolates. Sc. 2003 Scotland Magazine Jan-Feb 38:
If you are serving a lighter ice or mousse, proffer shortbread or tablet (Scottish fudge) alongside, for fear of denying Scots the opportunity to appease that confounded sweet tooth as often possible. Sc. 2003 Express 10 Mar 14:
Food firm Nestle might well have bitten off more than it can chew with the announcement that condensed milk is being withdrawn from supermarket shelves because it is "no longer fashionable". The move has infuriated sweet-toothed Scots, who claim Nestle's decision will force the extinction of treats like tablet and fudge.