Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
FOOTBALL, n. Sc. usage: a sum of money paid by a married entrant member of a merchant guild on behalf of his wife to allow her to share in the benefits of the common fund. For the orig. of the metaphor see Ba-siller, Ba-money.Per. 1830 Perthshire Adv. (2 Dec.):
If the widow be poor, has she not a right to the funds? or why does her husband pay what is called a foot-ball? is not this regarded as his wife's entry-money?
