Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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DEBATE, n.

1. Sc. law: in court procedure, the legal argument submitted by the parties on the closed record. Also attrib.Sc. 1865 Act of Sederunt (15 July) s. 5:
Every debate shall be proceeded with and brought to a close by the counsel in attendance.Sc. 1909 W. Wallace Practice Sheriff Ct. 190:
The word "debate" is sometimes applied to the hearing on evidence. It would, however, perhaps be more convenient, as it would certainly be more logical, to confine the use of the word "debate" to the legal argument submitted by the parties on the closed record, and to describe the summing up of the evidence after the proof is closed as a hearing of evidence.Sc. 1913 W. J. Lewis Sheriff Ct. Practice 97:
If the facts are not in dispute, and the question is one of law only, the case is sent to the Debate Roll, and is there disposed of.

2. A struggle, a fight, a defence (Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.).Dmf. 1894 J. Shaw in Trans. Dmf. and Gall. Antiq. Soc. 146:
He made a great debate, i.e., he struggled well and kept up his head.Ant. 1892 Ballymena Obs. (E.D.D.):
If a cart tumbled into a dyke shough, and the driver got so wedged in that he could not move, it would be said, "he could mak' nae debate for himsel'."

Hence †(1) debateable, capable of fending for oneself, self-reliant; (2) debateless, dibetless, helpless, incapable of fighting; "feeble, infirm; incapable of performing usual duties through bad health or old age" (Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., dibetless).(1) Gall. 1825 Jam.²:
A debateable person, one who makes a good shift to gain a livelihood.(2) Sh. 1926–28 J.G. in Shet. Times:
Lyin apo da saand debateless.