Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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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.
Quotation dates: 1738, 1865-1927
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CHOFFER, n. Also chauffer, chaffer.
1. A portable grate or stove used in a corn-kiln, as a heater, etc. Bnff. 1902 J. Grant Agric. in Bnffsh. 150 Years Ago 17:
The kiln was a simple enough construction. It had an open choffer or fire called the kilnlogie.Fif. 1865 St Andrews Gaz. (21 Oct.):
Mr Purvis towards evening sent off for a cart with tar and tar barrels and parrot coal, choffers, &c, &c.Edb. 1738 Caled. Mercury (14 Nov.):
A Choffer burning with small Coal raised such a prodigious Smoke as alarmed the whole Neighbours, who breaking in found the amorous Couple quite suffocated.Bwk. c.1910 W. Cuthbertson Dykeside Folk 63:
We fand an auld pail an' dung holes in it ser'd for a chauffer wi' a chimlay made oot o' an iron pipe.
2. As used in a baker's oven (see quots.). Sc. 1903 Confectionery & Baking Craft (March 1947) 119:
A "chaffer" is the part of a Scotch oven in which the fuel is burnt.Sc. 1927 J. Kirkland Bakers' ABC 50:
The technical name of a movable cast-iron fire grate, used in the old type of Scotch oven. This grate was half-moon shaped. The chaffer was pushed into the corner of the oven at the right or left hand of the door.
3. A chafing-dish (Abd. 1773 Weekly Mag. (7 Jan.) 40). See also Tea, n., (6).
[Fr. chauffer, to warm, heat. O.Sc. has choffer from 1596, but only in sense of a chafing dish or pan (D.O.S.T.).]You may wish to vary the format shown below depending on the citation style used.
"Choffer n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 1 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/choffer>
