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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.

Quotation dates: 1824-1833, 1930

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PROFITE, adj. Proficient, skilful, expert (Fif. 1825 Jam.). Hence profiteness, skill, proficiency (Bnff. 1966). Cf. Perfit. [pro′fəit]Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 192:
O' war we rhymesters sae profite As epitaphs on thee to write.
Ags. 1833 J. S. Sands Poems 25, 104:
Psalm singing was my chief delight; At prayin's too, I grew profite . . . In three short months o' summer ruddy, I grew sae profite at the studdy.
Bnff.2 1930:
Stick in till 't. Practice maks profiteness.

[An alteration of perfite, Perfit, with variation of pref., phs. influenced both formally and semantically by profit.]

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"Profite adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 9 Apr 2026 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/profite>

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