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.
SHAG, n.1 Also shagg. [ʃɑg]
1. A shaking, tossing.Peb. 1817 R. D. C. Brown Comic Poems 39:
And jeezy save inviolate, The wind that, by its shag, Now blew away.
2. The refuse of oats or barley, tail corn, i.e. poorly-filled ears, bits of chaff, etc. (Ags. 1825 Jam.; Slg. 1869 J. C. Morton Cycl. Agric. II. 725; Kcd., Ags., Per. 1970). Also attrib. and in Eng. dial.Ags. 1729 Arbroath T.C.Rec. MS. (26 Aug.):
The shag oats and straw to be given to the Touns horss.Ayr. 1742 Session Papers, Tenants v. Earl of Eglinton (5 June) 1:
Only Shaggs fit to be given to a Cow.Clc. 1822 Caled. Mercury (9 Dec.):
A quantity of shag, from English barley.Sc. 1832 Quarterly Jnl. Agric. III. 989:
This stuff, called somewhere roughs, and elsewhere shag, is composed of the heavier parts of the chaff, the light corn, ears of corn that have been broken off and partly thrashed and the larger parts of weeds.Kcd. 1929 J. B. Philip Weelum o' the Manse 19:
As the shag winna stan' the wecht o' the fan, so the sinner canna stan' i' the Judgment.
