Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1968 (SND Vol. VII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 2000
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RHUBARB, n. Also Sc. forms: rhubbarb (Fif. 1872 Mrs. G. Cupples Tappy's Chicks 150); rhubert; roob(e)rub (Mry. 1897 J. MacKinnon Braefoot Sk. 172; Cai., Arg. 1968); rewburd (Rxb. 1915 Jedburgh Gaz. (17 Sept.) 3, Cai., wm.Sc., Kcb. 1968). [`rub(ə)rʌb, ′rubərd]w.Lth. 2000 Davie Kerr A Puckle Poems 16:
Guid neebor Will, - his case at last
has Brickwork boss's blootert
an proves that reek,
thir fug an smeek,
can pizen aa wir rhubert.
Sc. usage in phr.: to gie somebody rhubarb, to beat someone soundly (Abd.15 1930: .Abd., Gsw., Wgt. 1968).
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"Rhubarb n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/rhubarb>
