Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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About this entry:
First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1853-1877
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GUINEA, n. Sc. usages:
1. †(1) "A short piece of wood, pointed at both ends, hit about in certain games (as tip-cat)" (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); (2) in phr. stick-an'-guinea, the game of tip-cat (Ib.). Also simply guinea (Ib. s.v. eendin's).
2. Combs. and attrib. uses: †(1) guinea gowd, fine gold (of 22 carats) of which guineas were made. Found in 17th c. Eng.; †(2) guinea-note, a bank-note for a guinea.(1) Rnf. 1877 J. M. Neilson Poems 18:
Nuggets o' guinea gowd rare.(2) Lnk. 1853 W. Watson Poems 84:
A lintseed Saturday, I min', Was maist as guid's a fair, man, As scores o' dealers in the line Wi' guinea-notes were there, man.
