Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
SCADDIN, n. Also -ing, -en. [′skɑdɪn]
1. A thin flaky turf, the top paring of peat from a bog; a slice of turf with some of the peat soil attached used for thatching (Kcd. 1921 T.S.D.C.).Abd. 1758 Session Papers, Fergusson v. Mackenzie, State of Process 24:
He could get no Muck-feal but some few black Scaddings.Kcd. 1845–7 Trans. Highl. and Agric. Soc. 519:
Stored the latter [potatoes] on the field in the usual way in long narrow bins covered with hill scaddens and earth.Per. 1881 D. MacAra Crieff 103:
A load or two of scaddins from the Muir of Dornock.
2. A lean, emaciated person or animal (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 155; Abd. 1921 T.S.D.C., Abd. 1969); “anything dry and shrivelled; commonly applied to fish” (Gregor).Abd. 1929 J. Alexander Mains and Hilly 91:
Ye're lattin' them grow peer scaddens on peer dietary.
3. Fig. Any worthless or contemptible person or thing, trash; used occas. of the smallest or least valuable playing-cards in a game (Bnff., Abd., Kcd. 1921 T.S.D.C.; Bnff., Abd. 1969).Abd. 1884 North. Figaro (19 June) 10:
The gweedwife's bonnet's nae neen o' yer jimcrack scaddin's o' things that only sits on tae the croon o' her heed.Abd. 1898 J. R. Imray Sandy Todd x.:
Tormentit wi' a puckle scaddens o' vratches like fat we hae met the nicht.Abd. 1915 H. Beaton Benachie 95:
They are mair sharp nor the very minister's bairns, an' them jist the scaddins o' the streets!Abd.1 1929:
Jist some scaddins left on the currant bushes.
