Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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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.
Quotation dates: 1726-1848, 1912-1925
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GANTREE, n., v. Also gaun-, gawn-; variant by back-formation ganter and pl. (used as .sing.) forms gantrees, -tries, gaun-, -tres(s), gawn-, ga(u)ntrice; ¶goantrees (Sc. 1895 Gl. to Scott Works XLVIII. 454). Sc. forms and usages of Eng. ga(u)ntry.
I. n. 1. As in Eng. = a wooden stand for barrels (Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 119, gawntree, 1807 J. Hall Travels Scot. I. 226, gauntrice; Sh. 1914 Angus Gl., gantrees; Ags.18 (gantrice), Ayr.8 1954).Hence transf. in a modern bar, the shelves with their bottles behind the barman (Fif., wm., sm.Sc. 1975).Sc. 1726 Ramsay T.T.Misc. (1876) I. 100:
Syne paid him upon a gantree, As hostler-wives should do.Sc. 1747 Nairne Peerage Evidence (1873) 80:
Item a gantrees att two shillings.Edb. 1772 R. Fergusson Poems (1925) 20:
At Hallow-fair, whare browsters rare Keep gude ale on the gantries.Sc. 1816 Scott O. Mortality viii.:
The housekeeper . . . is neither so young nor so handsome as to tempt a man to follow her to the gauntrees.Ayr. 1848 J. Ramsay Woodnotes 26:
Upon a gauntree's end, completely clad With casks.Ags. 1912 A. Reid Forfar Worthies ix.:
Every house also had a gantrice, or box, on which the pan and pitcher stood.Knr. 1925 “H. Haliburton” Horace 170:
Yet beardit John will hauld his ain Wi' Bacchus and his vine-trees, Whether wide-racing owre the plain Or resting on the gantrees.
2. A small loft, usually made by placing long pieces of wood across the eaves (Cai. 1916 T.S.D.C. II., Cai.7 1953). Cum. dial. has gantry = a garret.
‡3. A wooden tripod used as a stack prop (Kcb. 1950).
4. By extension: any high perch, e.g. the seat on a binder or the like (Ags. 1950).
†5. Used as a derogatory term.Sc. 1819 J. Rennie St Patrick II. xvii.:
What hae ye made o' my Jock, ye muckle gauntres o' a rybel loon, it ye are?
6. In form ganter, a tall, unstable erection (Ork. 1930). Adj. gantery, unstable, ricketty, top-heavy (Id.).
¶II. v. To set barrels on gantries. Only in Tennant.Fif. 1812 W. Tennant Anster Fair vi. xxiv.:
And, gawntress'd round each ruddy fire about, Hogsheads of porter and of cheery ale.Sc. 1846 Anon. Muckomachy 65:
Great michtie barrels, gauntress'd strang.
