Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†CONTER-TREE, n. comb. A cross-bar of wood, attached by a piece of rope in the middle to the centre of a door and resting on a bracket on the door-post at each side, thus preventing the door being opened from the inside (Abd., Mearns 1825 Jam.2).Abd. 1813 W. Beattie Tales 53:
The door was slightly girded tee, Wi' an auld tow an' conter-tree.
