Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CASS, n. “A set of four cherry-stones, in or for playing the game of ‘papes'” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.). Used both for sing. and pl. (cf. Eng. gross). Not known to our correspondents.Rxb. c.1840 A. Michie Trans. Hawick Arch. Soc. (1908) 76:
Some boys had from a hundred to a hundred and fifty “cass,” which were kept in bags made for them by loving mothers or sisters. A “cass” consisted of four pips.
