Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1960 (SND Vol. V).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1735, 1808-1818, 1889-1949
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HEFT, v.4 Also †haft.
1. To restrain, hold back milk in a cow's udder so that it becomes hard and distended, either by plugging the teats or allowing the animal to go unmilked (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl., haft; Kcb.4 1900; Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Bwk. 1942 Wettstein; Knr., m.Lth., Gall., Dmf., s.Sc. 1956). Gen. in pass. Ppl.adj. heftit, -et, -ed, of an udder: hard and dry through not being milked (Ayr.4 1928; Bnff., Abd., Gall., s.Sc. 1956); of milk: accumulated in the udder (Rxb. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poet., Gl., heftit; Abd., Fif., Knr., Rxb. 1956); of a cow: having a large quantity of milk in the udder (Ayr.4 1928; em.Sc.(a), Gall., Dmf., Rxb. 1956).Edb. 1735 Broadsheet (4 Oct.):
'Tis afraid she [a cow] turns hafted, being in use to Milking.Sc. 1808 Jam.:
A cow's milk is said to be heftit, when it is not drawn off for some time. This inhuman custom very generally prevails, that the udder may make a great appearance in a market.Sc. 1889 H. Stephens Bk. Farm III. 25:
Thus also the impropriety of hefting or holding the milk in cows until the udder is distended much beyond its ordinary size.Abd. 1915 H. Beaton Benachie 125:
Fat's vrang wi' ye noo' Francie? Ye're fittin' aboot like a heftit coo.Uls. 1922 P. MacGill Lanty Hanlon 259:
The heavy udders of hefted cows trailed on the ground, dripping milk on the greensward.Sc. 1949 Scotsman (27 June):
This practice of "hefting up" milk cows deceives no one, least of all the experts.
2. Transf. (1) To distend the bladder by retention of urine; to confine nature (Sc. 1825 Jam.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 226); (2) ppl.adj. heftit, (a) "full of liquid to the bursting point" (Ayr. 1912 D. McNaught Kilmaurs 297; Knr., m.Lth. 1956); (b) swollen with wind, blown up, flatulent (†Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.; Knr., m.Lth., Dmf. 1956). Also used fig.; (c) full to repletion (Mry.1 1925; Abd., m.Lth. 1956); (d) constrained by misfortune, hard pressed (m.Lth.1 1956, "sair heftit").(2) (a) Slk. 1818 Hogg B. of Bodsbeck I. 288:
Never do thou suffer us to be heftit e'ening or morning, but gie lashin' meals o' the milk o' praise.(c) Fif. 1909 Colville 177:
A tak ill wi' the firrst o' hairst. A buddie's sae heftit wi' the baps an' the beer, an' fair hippit wi' the bindin'.
