Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
LAST, n.2 Sc. usages of Eng. last, a measure for grain, herrings, etc.
1. As in Eng., but specif. in Ork. a standard measure of weight, gen. of grain, malt or butter = 24 Meils, the exact equivalent in imperial measure being fluctuating and uncertain. See H. Marwick in P. Ork. A.S. XV. 9–13. Now only hist.Ork. 1734 P. Ork. A.S. I. 65:
Six lasts of bear upon the bear pundler for seed and servants' bolls.Ork. 1757 Session Papers, Galloway v. Morton (12 Nov.) 2:
The Malt Pundar Last contained twenty-four of these Meils, and consisted of one thousand seven hundred and twenty-eight Pounds, and no more.Ork. 1805 G. Barry Hist. Ork. (1808) 219:
The smallest of these weights, or the one of the lowest denomination is the mark. Twenty-four marks make a setteen or lispund, or pund bysmer, or span; all of which are equivalent and convertible terms; and though the three latter are now obsolete, they were commonly used in the last age; six setteens or lispunds, make a meil, and twenty-four meils a last.Ork. 1933 Old-Lore Misc. IX. iv. 241:
Hitherto, when the weights were uniform, 1 last, or 36 meils of barley were equal in value to 1 last, or 24 meils of malt or meal, and each of these was called by the Scotch term, a chalder, and measured from 16 to 18 Scotch bolls, according to the quality of the grain, and not 16 bolls as in Scotland.
†2. In Shetland: a measure of land = 18 Merks, q.v.Sh. c.1733 in P.S.A.S. XXVI. 201:
That none have more swine than four upon a last of land over winter, under the pain of ten pounds.Sh. 1921 Old-Lore Misc. IX. i. 57:
A “last of land” of 18 marks originally paid, in rent and tithe, exactly 216d., or 36 meils at 6d., and apparently the original “last” measure was 36 and not 24 meils; hence the “last of land”, viz., a plot of land which paid a “last” weight of produce in rent and tithe.
