Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1738-1820, 1880-1999
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DIVIDE, v. Sc. usages and forms.
1. Irreg. pa.t. and pa.p.: div(v)id, dividden (Kcb.10 1940), ‡divide (Abd.27 1930). These forms are rare and analogical.Arg.1 1929:
There wuz lots o' work in it, bnt the work wasna richt divid.Ayr. 1912 G. Cunningham Verse 47:
And bocht a bit heifer at ane o' the mairts, Whilk was kill't and dividden in three equal pairts.Ayr. 1990s:
A divid it in twa last nicht; A hae divid it in twa just noo; A hae dividen it in twa just nooUls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.:
We divvid them as well as we cud.
2. Derivs.: (1) divider, a ladle, a serving spoon (Mry.2 c.1880; Cai.10 1948; Bnff.2, Abd.2, Ags.17, Fif.1 1940; Ayr. 1900 E.D.D.; Dmf. 1950 (per Fif.17)); (2) dividing-spoon, id. (Bnff.2 1940; Abd.29, Ayr.9, Dmf. (per Fif.17) 1950).(1) Sc. 1770 Weekly Mag. (17 May) 223:
There happened to be in the kitchen two silver jugs, one dozen table-spoons, a divider and a fine table-cloth.Sc. 1948 Sale Catalogue:
Silver soup divider, fiddle pattern.Edb. 1812 P. Forbes Poems 44:
A pair o' small dividers.Dmf. 1820 Blackwood's Mag. (Feb.) 518:
A large spoon of green horn of dimensions equal to the rapacity of an ogress. It is called by the Lowlanders a “divider” . . . its mouth was rimmed with silver, the shaft ornamented with the same, terminating in a whistle.(2) Sc. 1773 Boswell Tour to Hebrides (1936) 115:
He gave it [the punch] with a pewter dividing-spoon which had served the broth.Sc. 1785 Scots Mag. (March) 151:
Stealing from thence two dozen of silver table-spoons, a silver dividing-spoon, three silver tea-spoons, two punch-spoons.Fif. 1738 Private Valuation (per Fif.1):
A divideing Silver Spoon. £2. 10. 0.
