Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
EEL-STAB, Eill-stob, n. comb. A V-shaped incision made in the ear of an animal as a mark of ownership “by doubling the ear and cutting out the top centre so as to resemble a fork” (s.Ayr. 1940 (per Gall.3), Arg., Kcb. 1949).Ayr. 1824 A. Crawford Tales Grandmother (1825) II. 230:
You, doubtless, ken your ain hogue-mark, . . . an eel-stab and twa slits on the fore-quarter.Sc. 1934 A. Fraser Herd of the Hills ii. xviii.:
Keep a look-out for the Glendarroch marks — eill stob on near ear, two notches below on the far ear, a C on the near horn.
Hence eelstabbit, -ed, -stobed, having such a mark (Gall.3 c.1867, -stabbit).Sc. 1699 Edb. Gazette (5–8 June):
Stolen . . . Seventeen Sheep . . . Seven Eel-stobed in the farder Ear.Kcb. 1897 T. Murray Frae the Heather 148:
I bought, paid, and marked him, eelstabbed i' the n'ar, Sae that if I lost I could swear to my pig.
