Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
BELLY-TIMBER, -TIMMER, n. Food of all sorts, provisions. In St.Eng. not in serious use since time of Butler 1663 (N.E.D.).Sc. 1820 Scott Monastery xv.:
The ample provision they have made for their own belly-timber.Sc. 1874 A. Hislop Sc. Anecd. 295:
Champed potatoes. Mashed potatoes in milk and butter . . . are truly glorious belly timmer.Ags. 1820 A. Balfour Contemplation, etc. 265:
Kail-brose, an' 'tatoes i' their jacket, Wi' sowens, an' crowdie, thro' the simmer, Was Watty's stock o' belly timmer.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 114–115:
E'en Tammie Pethrie's wrackit mare Had gather't to her feet ance mair, And chang'd her camstane for a skair O' belly-timber sweet.Kcb. 1894 S. R. Crockett Raiders xvi.:
Them that gaes linking thorough the moss-haggs and the muirs . . . has need o' some steeve belly-timber.
