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.
MARBLE, n. Also Sc. forms: marrable (Sh. 1892 G. Stewart Fireside Tales 51, Sh. 1962); marbae (Per. 1897 C. M. Stuart Sandy Scott's Bible Class 15); marval (Rnf. 1788 E. Picken Poems Gl.; Cld. 1880 Jam.), marvel (Uls. 1880 Patterson Gl.). Sc. usages:
Combs. 1. marble-band, mussel band, a bed of clay ironstone with fossilised shells embedded in it (Sc. 1886 J. Barrowman Mining Terms 44), from its appearance; 2. marble-bools, -bowls, the children's game of marbles (Sc. 1808 Jam.); the marbles themselves (Sc. 1880 Jam.). See Bool, n.1
