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.
SKIPPER, n. Sc. usages:
1. As in Eng., in comb. skipper-han, the starboard side of a boat (Crm. 1911). See Hand, I. 2.; †specif. in a herring fishing-boat: the leader of a squad of three or four men working on the nets; a part-owner of the boat, responsible for its upkeep.Kcd. c.1722 Stat. Acc.1 XV. 230:
Three of the crew [of 10] were called skippers, who had a share in the boat, kept her in repair, and became bound to indemnify the proprietor of the town for the sum of 100 merks Scotch, which he advanced to assist in building the boat; and also to pay a yearly rent of £2. 10s. Sterling.Bwk. 1795 Stat. Acc.1 VII. 407:
These are used only in the herring fishing, each carrying 4 men and a skipper, with 8 nets.
†2. A master, boss, employer.Rnf. 1832 Fraser's Mag. (June) 599, 601:
The helps are not genteel, and they call their employers skippers. . . . What the English call a master is there [Greenock] called a skipper.
†3. The rock-pipit, Anthus spinoletta (Bte. 1820 J. Blain Hist. Bute (1880) 22).Arg. 1863 Zoologist XXI. 8822:
Pipits alight in many of the boats, and commence searching the nets for any marine animalculae which may be adhering thereto, not being interfered with in their pursuit by the fisherman, who have facetiously dubbed them with the respectful title of “skipper.”
