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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

ASHET(T), Aschet, Ass(i)et, Ashad, n. An oval, flat plate or dish, generally large, on which a joint or other food is served, in mod. usage freq. applied to a pie-dish (wm.Sc. 1975). Hence ashet-pie, a meat pie made or sold in such a dish (Ib.). Gen.Sc. (Unknown in St.Eng. or Eng. dialect.) [′ɑʃət Sc.; ′ɑʃəd Cai.]Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 146:
An asset, a small dish, or plate.Sc. 1858 E. B. Ramsay Reminisc. (1860) 260:
The plate on which a joint or side-dish was placed upon the table, was an ashet.Sc. 1923 R. A. Taylor The End of Fiammetta 76:
I wad gie elfin scarlet cates On ashets coloured fine.Sc. 1996 Independent (30 Nov) 16:
The lunch was served, free of charge, to old-age pensioners at the parish church in the Scottish town of Wishaw. The menu was scotch-broth, ashet pie and ice-cream. The ashet pie - named after the Scots dialect term for a shallow oval dish with pastry on top but none below - was of steak, ... Sc. 1996 Scotland on Sunday (29 Dec) 17:
In that brief hiatus between devouring the Christmas turkey and mangling the New Year's ashet pie consider the slaughter of dumb animals, and how good they taste.Sc. 1996 Scotsman (13 Dec) 21:
Put the joint on an ashet and leave to rest in a warm place.Sc. 2000 Sunday Times (27 Feb):
We bang on about centuries of fellow-feeling, the cultural and military group hug that was the Auld Alliance and how "ashet pie" and "bunnet" were phrases happily handed over by our Gallic cousins.Sc. 2001 Edinburgh Evening News (14 Nov) 25:
Images of massive haunches of venison served on large ashets with pomp and ceremony suggest baronial splendour ... Sc. 2003 Shena Mackay Heligoland (2004) 51:
From the bitter perspective of Chestnuts, the Castle bristled with rods, guns, traps and snares, the kitchen table was heaped with carcses [sic] and an ashet full of blood stood on the draining board, birds hung in bunches from hooks and antlered heads mourned from the walls.Cai.³ 1932:
Ashad = ashet. In common use.Cai. 1937 Neil M. Gunn Highland River (1991) 66:
The sight drew water through the teeth, and while Grace before meat was still being said, a sly hand would slip forth and steal the king of the ashet.Inv. 1725 W. Mackay (ed.) Ltr. Bk. of Bailie J. Steuart 236:
Two large flat dishes for roast or boiled meat, and few ashetts ditto.Abd.(D) 1871 W. Alexander Johnny Gibb 279:
Samie 'imsel' cuttit feckly, . . . on a muckle ashet, wi's fir gullie, 't I pat an edge on till 'im for the vera purpose.Abd. 1998 Sheena Blackhall The Bonsai Grower 19:
Fin Nell gaed oot tae feed the chukkens, he'd wauk aside her, wi braw tales o farawa airts an fremmit fowk. Syne, Nell's een wad grow roon as ashets.Dundee 2000 Matthew Fitt But n Ben A-Go-Go 9:
A young waitress dichtin glesses at the bar an a bus-boy gaitherin creeshie ashets fae a table nearby goavied owre at him but Paolo didna try tae catch their ee.Per. 2004:
The chicken skites aff the ashet when ye're tryin tae get the stuffin oot. A've got ae ashet wi grooves in the china tae catch the gravy.Lth. 1819 J. Thomson Poems 74:
Assiets oval, round, and square, Puddin plates the best o' ware.wm.Sc. a.1930 N. Munro Looker-on (1933) 112:
Ashet pies at sixpence.Arg. 1907 N. Munro Daft Days iii.:
“I'm long of coming, like Royal Charlie,” Kate proceeded, as she passed the ashets on to Miss Dyce.Gsw. 1985 Anna Blair Tea at Miss Cranston's 3:
Whatever of their possessions were not under the bed were arranged on and under the shelf running along above the dresser ... crockery, ashets, jelly pan, bowls, string-box and tea-caddy.Gsw. 1986 Stanley Baxter and Alex Mitchell Stanley Baxter's Bedside Book of Glasgow Humour 16:
Clara: Ah'm comin', Gloria. (Ashet of croquettes with serving tongs are handed to her from the side.)Kcb. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 22:
Aschet, the king of the trencher tribe. Some time ago they were made of pewter . . . and stood on the loftiest skelf [of the dresser] like so many shields.