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.
PROVERB, n. Sc. usage, in pl., construed as coll. sing.: a separately bound copy of the Book of Proverbs in the Bible, at one time in common use as a schoolbook. See also Pair, n., 3. (2). Obs.Bwk. 1723 R. Gibson Old Bwk. Town (1905) 98:
For a proverbs resting and an ounce of candie and a loaf when he was sick, 4s.
