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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

AMER-TREE, EMMER-TREE, n. Cross beam in chimney with chain attached for pots. [′ɑmərtri]Ork. 1887 Jam.6:
Amer-tree, emmer-tree, a beam of wood or bar of iron built in the chimney, or set over the fire, to which is attached a chain for suspending pots, etc.Ork.1 1931:
The amertree . . . is well known to the older folk here in the West Mainland.

[Emer is prob. borrowed from some L.G. dialect (see Bense in Low-Du. Element in Eng. Voc.). Middle L.G. amber, ammer, ember, emmer, Du. emmer, a pail; O.E. amber, embren. From am or em + ber. Am or em comes from the same root as Eng. same, Lat. semel, and ber or mer from root of Eng. bear, Lat. fero. An emmer orig. was a one-handled pot. Cf. Lat. amphora, a two-eared jar. Tree, O.E. trēow = a beam.]

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