Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
PILLAR, n. Sc. usages:
1. A raised platform or stand in a church where persons found guilty of some misdemeanour by the Kirk Session were sentenced to stand during service for a specified number of Sundays to be rebuked as a form of penance. Cf. the stool of repentance s.v. Stuil. Comb. pillar-foot. Hist.Abd. 1700 W. Cramond Church of Aberdour (1896) 43:
The Session appoint the said Janet to stand at the Kirk door in Sackcloth half an hour ere the minister come in and after that shall stand at the pillar foot in tyme of sermon and be rebuked publicly and shall pay two pounds Sc.Fif. 1708 A. Laing Lindores (1886) 285:
James Scot entered the pillar and was requked.Sc. 1726 Ramsay T.-T. Misc. (1876) I. 132:
Now Tam maun face the minister, And she maun mount the pillar.Dmf. 1760 Session Papers, Jardine v. Corbet Proof 56:
The word pillar, that denotes the repenting-stool.Ayr. 1885 A. Edgar Church Life 290:
During the period that the church “pillar” was the conspicuous object in church, there were some favoured offenders that were allowed to stand “laich,” and be rebuked in front of the pulpit.
2. A wooden post or stand on or beside a precentor's desk on which the name of the psalm tune to be sung was conspicuously displayed.Ayr. 1849 Maybole Free Church Session Records MS. I. 303:
Sept. 11. Two Pillars for Tunes — Precentor's Desk . . . . . . . 10/-.
