Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1939, 1990
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‡CANTER, v. To make music with the mouth for dancing when a musical instrument is not available; “still used in the landward part of the district, where impromptu dances are of frequent occurrence” (Arg.1 1939; Arg. 1990s). Cf. Deedle, v.2 and n. Vbl.n. canterin.Arg.1 1939
Come away, mistress, canter for us. The lads and lasses are wearyin' for a dance and they say ye're a gran' hand at canterin.Per. 1990 Betsy Whyte Red Rowans and Wild Honey (1991) 35:
Then he did it in the canterach. He cantered it over and over till I got it right.
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"Canter v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/canter>
