Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1721-1722, 1822-1948, 2000
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DISPLENISH, v. and n.
1. v. To divest of furnishings or contents (Sc. 1808 Jam.), now esp. of a farm: to sell off the stock, implements, furniture, etc. (Sh.11 1949; Mry.1 1925; Bnff.2, Abd. and Fif. correspondents, Arg.1, Kcb.1 1940).Sc. 1721–22 R. Wodrow Sufferings I. 341:
The Lyon sent and displenished all his Ground, and took Horses, black Cattle, Sheep, etc., and displenished his House and whole Lands.Sc. 1826 Scott Journal (1890) I. 151 Note:
You promised when I displenished this house that you wd. accept of the prints of Roman antiquities.Fif. 1827 W. Tennant Papistry Storm'd 92:
Ilk half gang raikin round the wa', Ane north, the tither westlins, ga Displenishin' the niches.Gall. 1930 H. Maxwell Place Names of Gall. xiv. Intro.:
Land drainage . . . has so displenished it [a small tarn] that it disappears after a dry summer and is partly restored by autumnal rains.
Hence displenishin(g) sale, a sale of the stock, implements, etc. on a farm. Gen. (exc. ne.) Sc.Sc. 1864 N.B. Advertiser (21 May):
Displenishing sale . . . at Orbost, Isle of Skye . . . Cattle, Stock, and Household Furniture.w.Dmf. 1917 J. L. Waugh Cute McCheyne 115:
This turn-up'll mean a displenishin' sale; an', wi' the markets sic as they are, it'll be an unco chancy business.
2. n. = Displenishing sale (Sh.11 1949; Bnff.2, Abd.9, Ags.17 1940). Also displenish sale.Mry. 1822 Farmer's Mag. (May) 246:
Farmers are unwilling to quit their farms if they can possibly keep possession of them, while the displenish would come to so little.Abd. 1910 C. Murray Hamewith 14:
Nae doot, at the Widow's displenish Gey aften I emptied the stoup.Abd. 1930 N. Shepherd Weatherhouse 14:
They would need a displenish themsels in yon hoose, let alane bringin' mair in by.Abd. 1948 Abd. Press and Jnl. (9 Nov.):
Displenish Sale at Middlemuir, Dudwick, Auchnagatt, on Saturday first, 13th November, at 1 p.m.Abd. 2000 Herald 2 Oct 21:
The new shed is completed. It is so big that Mossie says Potions will be the first in Aberdeenshire to hold his displenish sale indoors.Ags. 1863 Montrose Standard (14 Aug.):
Displenish sale of growing corn.
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"Displenish v., n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/displenish>
