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.
GROAT, n. Sc. usage in combs. (1) drunken groat, a fine for drunkenness imposed by a real or mock court; (2) groat man, a day labourer, one wbo worked orig. for a groat a day.(1) Sc. 1718 Ramsay Poems (S.T.S.) I. 75:
Payment of the drunken Groat is very peremptorily demanded by the common People next Morning; but if they frankly confess the Debt due, they are passed for Two-pence. Edb. 1773 Fergusson Poems (S.T.S.) II 92:
He paid his drunken groat For that neist day.(2) Bwk. 1795 Stat. Acc.1 XIV. 22:
Mr. Hall's day-labourers, called groat-men.
