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.
EIL-MARK SHEEP, n. comb. A sheep that has developed the habit of leaping over walls, “esp. those separating common hill ground from the arable or cattle pasture. Such sheep have to be penned apart and tethered” (Sh.10 1950). [′ælmɑrk]Sh. 1845 Stat. Acc.2 XV. 102:
Some of them yielding grass barely sufficient for supporting an eil-mark sheep for a few months, in the summer and harvest.
