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: 1893
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ITHY, n. An eddy “esp. an eddy alongside a tideway” (Ork. 1929 Marw.). Hence ethystone, ithysteen, a stone used to anchor a boat (in an eddy) when fishing (Ib., Ork.1 1945). Cf. Sh. eelasten, id., s.v. Eela, q.v. [′ɪði]Ork. c.1893 W. R. Mackintosh Peat-fires 129:
He went with his boat and cast his ethystone a little to windward of where the grain was being thrown into the sea.