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.
PORTER, n. Sc. Weaving usage: A section of the reed in a loom containing 20 interstices through which the warp threads are passed, the width of the interstice being determined by the number of these contained in an ell of 37 inches and therefore in turn determining the density of the weave, called in Eng. a beer. See Hunder, n., 2.Fif. 1735 Caled. Mercury (15 April):
All Cloth where the Porters and Hundreds are wanting, to pay as follows.Slg. 1795 Stat. Acc.1 XV. 357, Note:
It was died a blue colour in the wool, and wove for a penny farthing the ell, in a ten porter or two hundred reed.Sc. 1807 J. Duncan Weaving 23:
In Scotland, the reed is divided into hundreds, and these hundreds again into five parts, each containing 20 splits, which are called porters.Fif. 1831 Fife Herald (17 March):
At present a 40-porter dowlas, 30 inches broad and 120 ells long . . . gives to the weaver 15s.; 50-porter of the same length and breadth 20s. . . . Now few weavers can weave a 50-porter in a fortnight . . . A 40-porter is a good “twa weeks' chapping,” and that allows to the workman only 7s. 6d. per week.Sc. 1846 G. White Treatise Weaving 277:
The hundred splits in all kinds of reeds is nominally divided into five equal portions for the sake of calculation, called porters in Scotland and beers in England.Ags. 1867 D. D. Black Hist. Brechin 271:
A thirty porter or 600 reed is divided into 600 openings in the breadth of 37 inches: 20 of these openings are called a porter.Fif. 1894 J. Menzies Our Town iv.:
Oh, jist the same as last — a hunder inch, fifty porter — I've nae reason to complain.Fif. 1930:
Porter denotes 40 threads. Also used to indicate fineness of cloth. Thus a 20 porter cloth means there are 800 threads on 37 inches wide at the reed.
