Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1700, 1868-1902
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†FACTION, n. Sc. usage: a division or section of a school class; the benches on which it sat. Only in Aberdeen Grammar School.Abd. 1700 Abd. Burgh Rec. (1872) 330:
Censors of such as speak English, prophan talk, or sweareing, throughout the severall factions to be taken account of.Abd. 1868 J. Riddell Aberdeen & Its Folk 20:
To make a thorough examination of all the “factions” in that establishment, in order to ascertain whether the poet . . . had left the marks of his pocket-knife behind him.Abd. 1900 E.D.D.:
In the Aberdeen Grammar School the 4th and 5th classes were divided into factions of four, the number of boys on a desk. I'm third of the fourth faction (15th from dux).
Phr.: burry on the factions, a boys' game played on the benches. Cf. Burrie, n.2Abd. 1902 Abd. Grammar Sch. Mag. No. 3. 101:
“Burry on the factions” was also carried on in the great school, a dangerous sport, as running at full speed on the top of the benches frequently led to serious falls.
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"Faction n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 15 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/faction>
