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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Scabbit, Skabbit, ppl. adj. Also: -ed; scabit, -yt, skabit, -ett; skebbat, skapped; s(c)hab(b)it. [ME and e.m.E. scabbed (Manning), schabbede (Piers Plowman); Scab n.]

1. Of an animal, esp. a horse: Suffering from scab (Scab n. 1). Also in fig. context and proverb.(a) 1492 Aberd. B. Rec. I 420.
To … vpricht the skaitht done … be his skabbit hors to … al vytheris gudis becaus the said hors ar forbodyne gudis c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 128/60.
Colleveris … That scabbit ar, hes cruik and cald 1526 Carnwath Baron Ct. (SHS) 55.
The inqueist ordanis Adam Hag to bring his scabbit hors to the kyrkstyll 1528 Lynd. Dreme 893.
Quho wyll go sers amang sic heirdis scheip May habyll fynd mony pure scabbit crok 1549 Banff Ann. I 27.
Ilk ny[ch]tbor that hes … skabbit hors … and puts the samyn … in ony pasteraig, the gudis to be eschett or cassing our the craig 1565–6 Inverness Rec. I 133.
Inhibetit … for to lat his scabbit horses amangis … his cottars horses 1585 Forres B. Ct. 21 Nov.
That na skabbit hors be fund on grenis or ony vthir place bot speciale to be haldin within howsis quhill thay be sufficientle laid 1594 Breadalbane Ct. Bk. 75b.
xix gaittis … quhilk gait wer scabbit 1598 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 150. 1629 Dumbarton B. Rec. 31.
Complenit vpoune for having … of scabbit hors on the comoun grass 1640 Hawick Ann. 50.
That nane keippe any caldit, scabbit, or other seik bestis within this bruch and freedom thereof 1678 Kirkcudbr. Test. (Reg. H.) 26 May.
Thrie meiris and thrie naigs all scabbed(b) 1493 Acta Conc. I 300/1.
For the skath sustenit be hir of a mer and a stag skabit 1541 Prestwick B. Rec. 57.
Ony scabyt horse, or ony wdir wnlauchful geyr 1592 Edinb. Test. XXV 15.
Tua skabit staigis price of tham baytht vj li. 1630 Douglas of Morton 739.
Skabett ky(c) 1533–4 Dunferm. Reg. Ct. 106.
Ane falty skebbat mayr(d) 1674 Rothesay B. Rec. 329.
That all those who hes skapped horse keip them upon ther owne grassefig. 1570 Misc. Bann. C. I 43.
He will nocht feir … the censure of the churche, rejecting him as the scabbit scheip from the rest of the floke, be excommunicatiouneproverb. a1568 Bann. MS 135a/35.
A skabbit scheip infeckis All the haill flok 1570 Sat. P. xxii 65.
The proverb sayis of auld: ane scabbit hors will feill quhair he is sair 1584 Sempill Sat. P. xlv Prol. 21.
A scabbit scheip wald fane infect the lave Causing seditione into the kirk to ryse a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 69.
A skabbed horse is good enough for a skald squir a1628 Carmichael Prov. No. 175.

b. Of a thing: Contaminated with the scab. 1593 Breadalbane Ct. Bk. 44.
For wranguslie taking of ane meir … for ane daye and pat ane scabit summok on hir

2. Of a person, or a part of a human body: Suffering from scabies or syphilis; covered with pustules or scabs. Also proverb. and transf. b. A term of opprobrium, expressing contempt, disgust or revulsion.a., b. a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 495.
A crabbit, scabbit, evill facit messan tyke c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 92.
Ane skabbit skarth, ane scorpioun, ane scutarde behind 1541–2 Elgin Rec. I 67.
Calling of the said James scabbit lyper carlle 1549 Compl. 67/15.
I sau cammauyne, quhilk is gude for ane scabbit moutht 1562-3 Winȝet I 43/31.
Blynd, crukit, and seik, … deformit, scabbit Moabites a1585 Polwart Flyt. 766 (T).
Flour the pin, scabbit skin, eit it in that thow spak 1630 Fraserburgh Kirk S. II 25 Aug.
Alledging scho callit hir commoun theiff skabbit glengorie quyne(b) 1541–2 Elgin Rec. I 68.
Calland hym dovr drunkyn beist and schabbit carlis get 1542 Ib. 72.
Calland … Ellen and Margarat shabbit, clangorit carlis birdis Ib.
Calling Megot Stuart schabit, blerit, clangorit carlingproverb. a1598 Ferg. Prov. No. 375.
He cals me skabbed because I will not call him skadetransf. 1560 Rolland Seven S. 3541.
This burges … promeist hir … ane new garmoun For hir huredom and harlatrie And hir scabbit scurilitie 1692 Presb. Eloq. (1693) 80.
Our neighbour nation will say of us, Poor Scotland, beggarly Scotland, scabbed Scotland, lousie Scotland