Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

ABBEY, n. Sc. usage with def. art., specif. of the Abbey of Holyrood in Edinburgh, now the royal palace, the precincts of which could be used as a sanctuary for debtors trying to evade their creditors. Comb. Abbey Laird, a jocular term for such a debtor. See also Laird, n., 2. (1).Edb. 1726 Edb. Ev. Courant (7 March):
Diligence being used for the same, he was obliged to betake himself to the Abbey. Sc. 1827 C. I. Johnstone Eliz. de Bruce II. xii.:
Robert Grahame, Esquire of Monkshaugh and Kippencreery Wester, an Abbey Laird!