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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

BLACK-BACK, n.

1. “A fish, the flounder or fluke, Platessa flesus” (Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.).

‡2. A nickname for a miner (Fif., Ayr. 1975, "apparently they used not to wash their backs because it would weaken them-so they got very black and polished-looking").

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