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.
PRIME-GILT, n.comb. A sum of money paid to the master and crew of a ship for the loading and care of the cargo, primage. Used attrib. in comb. prime-gilt box, a charitable fund for the relief of retired sailors and their families. See Box, n.1 Hist.Edb. 1711 D. Robertson Bailies of Leith (1915) 152:
Did in 1656 and 1701 mitigate the forsaid twelve pennies per tun of primegilt to a mans full burden of great coalls to be furthwith paid out of every tuenty deall of coalls.Fif. 1738 L. Macbean Kirkcaldy Burgh Rec. (1908) 263:
The Councill grants the petition of the Prime Gilt Box.Fif. 1845 Stat. Acc.2 IX. 768:
A charitable institution, denominated the “Prime Gilt Box,” which provides for old and disabled mariners belonging to the port, and for their widows and orphans, and for the relief of ship-wrecked seamen, has existed in this parish [Kirkcaldy] from a period prior to 1591.Edb. 1845 Stat. Acc.2 I. 763:
The shipmasters and mariners of Leith had been in the practice of receiving certain duties and stipends, called Prime Gilt of all Scotch ships loaded within Leith.
