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.
BET, v.2 and n. See Bait, n.2 and Bait, v.4 [be:t, be:ət]
1. v. (See quot.)Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
Bet, prop. to get to bite; let bite, esp.: to set a dog on the sheep; drive sheep with the help of a dog, to b[et] de sheep; to b[et] de tun wi' de dog, to drive the sheep away from the home-field (de tun) with the help of a dog. [O.N. beita, to set on, to hunt, to let graze.]
2. n. Lit. something to bite, as of grass given to a cow; also pasture and seed potatoes (Jak.).Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928):
Gi'e de coo a b[et].
