Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
FIELD, v., n. Sc. usages:
I. v. To sink a margin round a wooden panel (Sc. 1825 Jam.). Ppl.adj. fielded, having such a margin. Now used in Eng. Hence fielding-plane, the plane used for this purpose (Ib.). Gen.Sc.Kcb.10 1942:
Ye'll hae tae field the panel o' that window bosom tae match the shutters.Sc. 1950 Scotsman (4 Nov.) 9:
Panelling of polished mahogany wood, having fielded panels and fluted pilasters at intervals.
II. n. In combs.: 1. field lark, see quot.; 2. field-meeting, a religious service held in the open-air, a relic of Covenanting times; 3. field preaching, = 2. See 1820 quot. Known in Gall. to c.1912 and surviving in special commemorative services in various districts; 4. field-sparrow, the hedge-sparrow, Accentor modularis (Rxb. 1885 C. Swainson Brit. Birds 28, 1923 Watson W.-B.; Arg.3 1951). Also dim. form fieldie (Ib.), fieldy (Fif., Lth. 1926 Wilson Cent. Scot. 241); 5. Goodman's field, see Guidman. 1. Sc. 1885 C. Swainson Brit. Birds 46:
Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis). Short-heeled field lark (Scotland). So called because the claw of the hind toe is not so long as the toe itself.2. Rnf. 1738 Caled. Mercury (4 Sept.):
On Sunday the 27th of August there was a Field-Meeting held in the Parish of Kilmacomb. Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian xv.:
He had been present at a field-meeting at Crochmade. Sc. 1882 J. Taylor Sc. Covenanters 72:
The bishops sought to deter the people from frequenting the field-meetings.3. Sc. 1820 Blackwood's Mag. (Sept.) 601:
The Celebration of the sacrament in country parishes was, till of late, always accompanied by a “field preaching”, which drew together great numbers of hearers. Religious ceremonies, performed under the open heaven, are always peculiarly impressive; and this being the only relict of them left in Britain, it had its full effect on the minds of the people.Sc. 1824 Scott Redgauntlet xi.:
Auld wives in their red-cloaks, coming frae a field-preaching.Sc. 1949 Edb. Evening News (16 July):
Our forefathers used to hold “field-preachings” year by year on the site of the battle, although for long periods together the practice was apparently dropped. The writer remembers one such service held about 25 years ago.4. s.Sc. 1904 W. G. Stevenson Glen Sloken viii.:
“There's a fieldy wi' three eggs,” says the elder brother, and the younger never forgets the beautiful turquoise-blue of the field sparrow's egg.
