Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1709-1726, 1825, 1884-1927
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BESTIAL(L), BEASTIAL, n. A collective term for live stock on a farm. Sometimes found in pl. Still in use in St.Eng. in 17th cent. but now dial. (N.E.D.). Arch. [′bɛstjəl]ne.Sc. 1884 D. Grant Lays and Leg. of the North (1908) 68:
Reer superior breeds o' beastial, Poutry, piggery, sheep, an' kye.Bnff. 1726 in W. Cramond Church of Grange (1898) 89:
They could not get what litle of their corns remained uncollected preserved from being destroyed by the bestials.Mearns 1720 Baron Court Bk. of Urie (S.H.S. 1892) 117:
Donald's bestiall were pastureing upon his grass and propertie.m.Sc. 1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood x.:
Folk suld whiles change their ground like bestial.Lnk. 1709 Minutes J.P.'s Lnk. (S.H.S. 1931) 67:
He stiell strove to keep them wpon the said ground, sayeing that a few dayes would do the bestialls and his turn there.Gall. 1825 J. Denniston Leg. of Galloway 68:
I saw a guid strong stump o' a naig among the bestial in the yard.
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"Bestial n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/bestiall>
