Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1721, 1805-1947
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DRUM, n.2 and v. Sc. usages.
I. n.
1. The beating of a drum by the Edinburgh Town-guard to announce the hour of ten at night, when the inhabitants were expected to go home. Obs. since 18th cent. Cf. elders' hours s.v. Elder.Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems 192:
I'll wait upon ye, there's my Thumb, Were't frae the Gill-bells to the Drum.
2. “The cylindrical part of a thrashing machine, upon which are fixed the pieces of wood that beat out the grain” (Sc. 1825 Jam.2). Gen.Sc. Also in Eng. dial.Sc. 1831 J. C. Loudon Encycl. Agric. 436:
The grain was beat out by the drum, to which it was presented through two plain feeding-rollers, which were afterwards altered for fluted ones.e.Lth. 1805 R. Somerville Agric. e.Lth. 76:
The sheaves were carried between an indented drum . . . and a number of rollers of the same deseription ranged round the drum.
3. Phr. and Comb.: (1) drum-fu', as tight as a drum, absolutely full (with food) (Abd.15, Ags. 1950); (2) to break the drum, to “beat the band”, to surpass everything (Ags.17 1940).(1) Fif.10 1940:
The bairn's kyte's drum-fu'.Hdg. 1885 J. Lumsden Rhymes and Sk. 237:
The things he sent him — jeely an' meat an' wine, an' a' that — held a' oor hoose drum-fou for better than a fortnicht.(2) Ags. 1891 J. M. Barrie Little Minister x.:
Ay, but this breaks the drum.
II. v. To drive bees out of a straw hive by beating on the sides with the hands.Sc. 1870 A. Pettigrew Handy Bk. of Bees 179:
The drumming or driving now commences, simply by beating the bottom hive with open hands.Abd. 1947 Abd. Press & Jnl. (3 Sept.):
Bees — Swarm or Cast Wtd. Would drum ruskies.
