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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV). Includes material from the 1976 and 2005 supplements.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Quotation dates: 1723, 1903-1950

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FLEED, n. Also flood. The land at the end of the furrows in a ridge on which the plough turns, the end-rig (Abd. 1808 Jam.; ne.Sc. 1951). Also of burnt land in a moss.Abd. 1723 Fintray Court Book S.C. (Misc.) :
There is upon Alexr. Melvils tack the Nook of a flood partly soft partly hard burnt very deep.Abd. 1903 Banffshire Jnl. (29 Sept.):
Each brought his horse and cart to the field, where the ploughs lay on the fleed or end-rig.Bnff. 1917 E. S. Rae Private John Macpherson 54:
An' Geordie, ma foreman, a dacenter lad Ne'er wore nickietoms, nor plooed up a fleed.Abd. 1950 Buchan Observer (11 April):
We have often seen the clovers strike best in the "fleed," or endrig of a field.

[Of doubtful orig. Phs. the same word as fleed, s.v. Flude, that part of the field, in the old system of ploughing with crooked rigs and gaw-furrows, being no doubt flooded in wet weather, or more prob. a metaphorical use taken from the tide-mark, to and from which the waves advance and recede. Cf. flood(-mark).]

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