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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.

ANKER, n. Anker has a more extensive meaning in some parts of Scotland than in St.Eng., where it signifies a liquid measure and also the barrel containing the liquid. It is now obs. as a dry measure in St.Eng. It can still be used in Ork. and Sh. as a dry measure, and in n.Sc. we find it used for salmon and butter. [′ɑŋkər Sc.; ′aŋkər I.Sc.]Sc. 1746 John Mackenzie of Meddat in The Earls of Cromartie ed. Fraser (1876) II. 219:
Ther's four ankers butter packed redy to be sent by the first ship.Sh. and Ork. 1887 Jam.6:
Anker, a dry measure similar to the firlot, still used in Orkney and Shetland in measuring potatoes; one third of a barrel.Sh.4 1931:
An anker o' tatties.Ork. 1841 G. Smellie Stat. Acc.2 182:
Potatoes sell at from 8d. to 1s. per anker — i.e. from 2d. to 3d. per peck.n.Sc. 1744 Letter of Ld. Lovat in Trans. Gael. Soc. Inv. (1915) 215:
Send me two separate receipts for the Ankers of Salmond for Fraserdale and General Guest.

[“In Sh. and O[rk],” says Bense (Low-Du. Elem. in Eng.), “where it is used as a dry measure . . . the word was most probably borrowed from the Danes, as the people say it contains 38 Danish quarts.” Elsewhere, used for a liquid measure, and for the barrel containing the liquor, anker was taken from the Du. Med.Lat. has anceria, ancheria, a small vat; of uncertain origin.]

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