Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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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.
EXAMIN, Examine, n, v. Also exaemin, exemmin, exaimen, -in (Abd. 1880 W. Robbie Glendornie 16, 67; ne.Sc. 1975). Hence exemination (Abd. 1880 W. Robbie Glendornie 166, ne.Sc. 1975). An examination. [ɛg′zemən]
1. Specif.: an examination by a clergyman of the theological knowledge of his parishioners, formerly held in Presbyterian churches in Scotland in preparation for the celebration of the Lord's Supper (wm.Sc. 1835–37 Laird of Logan II. 364; Kcb.3 1929; Bnff.2 (exa(e)min), Abd.2 (exaemin), Ags.19, ‡Rxb.4 1944). Also used attrib. Hist. For phr. diet o' examine, see Diet, n.2Sc. a.1715 in A. Edgar Old Church Life (1885) I. 124:
Meetings of Kirk Session . . . were held before the Communion, to go over the “examine roll”, deal with delinquents, and determine who should be admitted or refused admission to the Lord's table.Lnk. c.1779 D. Graham Writings (1883) II. 30:
He answered the questions at the examine, better nor any other fouks.Edb. 1819 J. Thomson Poems 70:
At an examin', as they say, That happen'd ance upon a day, The priest an honest woman quarrel'd Which was the best book in the warld.Ayr. 1822 Galt Sir A. Wylie III. xxxv.:
We went to his “Examine”. . . . We found him seated in the venerable carved walnut elbow-chair, amidst the elders, in the session-house, listening with patient affection to the replies of the youth of both sexes.Abd. 1881 W. Paul Past and Present 44:
She had been at ane o' Mister Morison's exaemins.Ayr. 1913 J. Service Memorables 36:
The Dalry minister . . . speered at him why he never cam to the Examin'.
Hence phr. examinable persons, those who are eligible for such an examination.Sc. 1707 T. Boston Memoirs (1853) 195:
Ordinarily but about ninety examinable persons.Mry. 1775 L. Shaw Hist. Mry. 331:
Examinable persons are about 1000, whereof 200 are Roman Catholicks.Sc. 1818 Scott Rob Roy xxvi.:
I sall haud ilk parochine at the moderate estimate of eight hunder examinable persons.Peb. 1845 Stat. Acc.2 III. 11:
That return was . . . founded upon the proportion which the whole population is supposed to bear to the examinable persons.
2. Any other examination, e.g. at school or before a magistrate (Sc. 1818 Sawers Dict. Sc. Lang., exemmin; Abd.27 1950, exaemin).Ayr. 1822 Galt Provost xii.:
The black and yellow man . . . was brought up the street between two of the town-officers, to stand an examine before Bailie Booble.
