Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
SCOB, v.2, n.2 Also scobe. [skob]
I. v. 1. To scoop out, make hollow (Sc. 1887 Jam.; Uls. 1890 E.D.D.), to nibble or gnaw out with the teeth, as an animal eats turnips, etc. (Uls. 1904 Uls. Jnl. Archaeol. 128, 1931 Northern Whig (7 Dec.) 9); to clean out the long grass and weeds at the foot of a hedge in winter (Fif. 1969); to test a cheese by taking a sample from the inside by means of a scoop (Sc. 1911 S.D.D.).Uls. 2005:
There he was scobing out an apple, instead of answering my question.
2. To abstract pieces or quantities surreptitiously from the inside of a heap of some substance without disturbing the outward appearance (Dmf. 1950). Hence scober, one who pilfers in this way.Sc. 1886 J. Barrowman Mining Terms 57:
A hutch of mineral is scobbed when large pieces are laid over the corners to give the appearance of the hutch being full, when there is in reality little material in it.Rnf. 1920 J. Donald Greenock Charact. 85:
“Scobers” was the term applied to those Greenock urchins who pilfered sugar from casks or bags landed from West Indian and other traders.
II. n. An instrument for scooping, a scoop (Cld. 1808 Jam.; Lth. 1969).
[Appar. ad. Gael. sgob, to snatch, scoop out, nibble, peck.]
