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.
Quotation dates: 1920-1950
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ORRASTER, n. An extra hand, casual labourer (Bnff., Abd. 1964); a disreputable or coarse fellow, a vagabond.Abd. 1920 A. Robb MS. v.:
Them that wis coontit the orrasters gaed to the riddlin o' the corn and the winnowin'.Bnff. 1937 E. S. Rae Light in Window 29:
A laddie fessen up as you were speakin' o' joinin' up among a puckle orrasters o' sodgers.Abd. 1948 People's Jnl. (10 April):
The utterance of an “orraster” or a “rothie”.Abd. 1950 Banffshire Jnl. (1 Aug.):
They set to work, Weelim on the peat spade, and the orrasters, the barrows.
