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.
CHAFFER, n.1 “The round-lipped whale” (Sh. 1825 Jam.2; 1866 Edm. Gl.; 1932 J. M. E. Saxby Sh. Trad. Lore 202).Sh. 1774 G. Low Tour through Ork. and Schet. (1879) 86:
In my return to Selivoe, saw one of the Whales called here Chaffers.Sh. 1809 A. Edmonston Ancient and Present State of Zet. II. 300:
Delphinus orca (Linn.), Chaffer-whale, Grampus . . . when this whale follows a boat and alarms the crew, the fishermen have a practice of throwing a coin of any kind towards it, and they allege that the whale disappears in search of the coin, and ceases to molest them.
