Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1965 (SND Vol. VI). Includes material from the 1976 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1721-1790, 1865-1931
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OFFSET, n. See also Affset.
1. A start, beginning (Kcb., Uls. 1964). Now mostly dial. in Eng.Arg.2 1931:
He cam ower tae gie us a han at the offset. We started keepin jucks last year, but seeven o' them deed; that was a bad offset.
2. A setback, cause of delay. Cf. Off-put.Bnff. 1865 St. Andrews Gazette (21 Jan.):
He must fix the time now, as they had encountered offsets enough.
3. An ornament, embellishment, that which sets off or shows to advantage (Sc. 1808 Jam.). Obs. in Eng. from 17th c.Sc. 1721 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 101:
One mov'd beneath a Load of Silks and Lace, Another bore the Off-sets of the Face.Edb. 1764 Edb. Advertiser (6 March):
That very elegant square, called Brown's Square, . . . is a great beauty and off-set to the town.
4. A piece of uncultivated ground detached from common grazingland and broken in as an arable croft, an Outset, q.v. See also 1759 quot.Abd. 1759 Gordon's Mill Farming Club (1962) 76:
Some people turn their Cows a great part of the Day, into the poorest pastures they have; and this, with great propriety, they call an ofset.Sh. 1884 Crofter's Comm. Evid. II. 1335:
How long is it since you came into possession of that croft? Twenty-eight years ago. It was an offset the man took.
5. A diversion of a stream or conduit forming a mill-race.Dmf. 1731 Session Papers, Carlyle v. Sir W. Douglas (7 July) 2:
A Level made from the Offset of the Miln above the Race-trough.Rnf. 1790 Session Papers, Corse v. Houston (12 Aug.) 12:
Mr Houston's offset or waster-wear, of seven feet nine inches wide.
