Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1760-1767, 1829-1904, 1967
[0,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0]
SELF, pron., pref. For Sc. forms and usages see Sel, pron. Sc. combs. and phr.: 1. self-and-same, self-same, identical (Ork. 1969). Obs. in Eng. in 17th c.; 2. self-bore, a natural perforation in wood or stone, e.g. by the falling-out of a knot or by the action of a water-drip (see quot.). Hence self-bored stane; 3. self-contained, of a house: having an entry and grounds separate from those of its neighbours, detached or terraced, as opposed to a flatted or apartment house, a house within itself (see House, I. 3. (5)). Gen.Sc. The usage has recently been extended to include undivided flats with their own doors; 4. self-willy, self-willed, pig-headed. Obs. in Eng.1. Sc. 1838 Wilson's Tales of the Borders IV. 101:
At the self an' same spot where Ellen Graeme had threatened him!Ags. 1892 A. Reid Howetoon 69:
The very next time I was here I thocht the self an same thin'.s.Sc. 1904 W. G. Stevenson Glen Sloken ii.:
Ye can lippen to me to dae my best the self and same as if it wus for masel'.2. Rxb. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XII. 195:
It is said that this is the only peep-hole through which the gambols of the Fairies could be viewed with impunity. If one looked through a key-hole, the glamour could be cast over his eyes and he himself be punished. But if an inquisitive person was so fortunate as to find a self-bore, he might espy all the proceedings of Oberon and his retinue, or even of the more dangerous Hecate, and himself escape scartfree. . . . Self-bored stane. A kind of water-stone, found in a perforated state, used by the superstitious for curing or preventing the attacks of the night-mare, by being hung up within the bed in which the person sleeps.3. Gsw. c.1760 Glasgow Past & Present (1884) 393:
This fine old edifice was the town-house of Mr. Houston of Jordanhill. In common parlance, these gentlemen's houses were distinguished from the "flats" by the very odd phrase "self-contained," perpetuated to the present day.Edb. 1767 Caled. Mercury (1 June):
To be Let until Whitsunday 1768, and entered on immediately, A Self-contained House, pleasantly situated.Sc. 1829 Scott Redguantlet Note E:
Each house was, in the phrase of the appraisers, "finished within itself," or, in the still newer phraseology "self-contained."Dmb. 1845 Stat. Acc.2 VIII. 126:
Each family in these groups occupies a separate or self-contained cottage.Kcb. 1885 A. J. Armstrong Friend and Foe xxvii.:
The one nearest the church was a "self-contained house" — as the good townspeople generally termed a house which had but one tenant and one door.Sc. 1967 Scotsman (14 March) 16:
Desirable Self-contained House, comprising 3 public 4 bed rooms, kitchen and basement.4. Ags. 1858 People's Jnl. (5 June) 2:
Sae impatient was I o' paternal controul, sae ootrageously self-willy.
