Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

LUMP, n. Sc. usages: 1. A lot, a large amount or portion. Gen.Sc. Slang or dial. in Eng.m.Sc. 1927 J. Buchan Witch Wood Prol.:
There was a muckle lump [of wood] on Windyways.Rxb. 1927 E. C. Smith Braid Haaick 14:
Hei hes a lump o eis faither's naetir aboot um.Abd.¹⁵ 1950:
It took a lump o' siller to tak' ower the invetirs them leen.

Phr. a or the lump o' one's death (dead), the chief cause of or important factor in one's death (Sh., Kcb. 1961).Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 39:
I'd gotten a lump o my ain dead the day; Wi' weet an' wind sae tyte into my teeth.Sc. 1824 Blackwood's Mag. (March) 314:
He . . . yoked on the barber, and I verily believe wad hae gien him a lump o' his death.Sh. 1897 Shetland News (4 Dec.):
A'm no gaun ta creeat da lump o' my deth staandin' furt plukkin' hay da nicht.

2. A piece or portion of land.Inv. 1795 Stat. Acc.¹ VIII. 507:
Land is not let by the acre, but by the piece or lump.

3. A large shapeless stone used in dry-walling (Sh. 1961).