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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.

BLOCK, n.1 Gen.Sc.

1. “A fellow in gen. (without any feeling of friendliness)” (Ags.2 1935). Cf. Eng. slang bloke, also Eng. block, which has a less gen. applieation.Lnk. 1929 G. Blake Path of Glory iii.:
Get thae lazy blocks oot their beds.

2. A pal, a chum.Avoch, e.Rs. 1914 T.S.D.C. I. 23:
'Ee wis a great block o' ma faither's.

3. The base in hide-and-seek or 'Hy-spy' (Sh., Abd., Ags., Fif. 1975).

4. In dim. form blockie: see quot.: Abd. 1923 A. Shewan Spirat Adhuc Amor 279:
Blockie, or "Little Cricket," as some called it, with a stump of a tree for a wicket and any bit of wood for a bat.

[O.Sc. has blok, (1) a block of wood, (2) a quantity or amount — e.g. of goods sold at one time, (3) blockish person (D.O.S.T.).]

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