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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
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.

DROP, v. and n.1 Sc. usages.

1. v.

(1) Mining: to work the upper portion of a seam after the lower has been extracted (Sc. 1886 J. Barrowman Mining Terms 25).Sc. 1944 (per Edb.6):
We drappit the heid coal.

(2) To drain (honey) drop by drop from the comb.Kcb. 1939 Catalogue Borgue Flower Show 11:
3 lbs. Dropped Honey, Clear, shown in 1-lb. glass jars, with screw tops.
Dmf. 1812 W. Singer Agric. Dmf. 388:
It was the practice formerly to drop the honey which can only be done when warm and fresh. But the dirty practice of squeezing was also tried, which brought the honey sold under the name of dropt-honey into just discredit.

2. n. Mining: the apparatus for dropping (Sc. 1944 (per Edb.6)).

3. Combs.: (1) drop-pit, “the pit for lowering mineral to a lower seam” (Id.); (2) drop-tree, the fuchsia; cf. dropper-tree (Cor.), drops (Nhb.), idem.(2) Ayr. 1811 W. Aiton Agric. Ayr. 130:
The houses . . . having their byres, dungsteads, gardens, etc. behind, and nothing but drop-trees, and shrubbery in front.

4. Phr. to sit under the drop of, to be a regular attender at the preaching of (a certain minister), to be a member of some minister's congregation (Sc. c.1910, obsol.). Cf. Deuteronomy xxxii. 2.Sc. 1780 J. Howie Coll. Sermons Pref. iv.:
There are many sitting daily under the drop of a standing ministry, that are ignorant of the very first principles of Christianity.

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