Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
DEBT, n. In phr. †to come in the debt o', “to break; to destroy; to kill; to make an end of” (Abd. 1825 Jam.2). Also king's debt, an Ork. name for Skatt (Ork. 1975). Ork. 1775 J. Fea Present State (1884) 63:
As our Cows are of a very small size a great number of them will be required, in order to produce the quantity of butter paid by the Tenants to their masters, under the name of Debt.
