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.
Quotation dates: 1761, 1920
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HERB, n. Sc. usage in comb. herb-ale, a decoction of herbs used as a tonic or medicine.Gsw. 1761 Session Papers, Petition J. Calder (1 Dec.) 24:
Herb-ale, Whey or Butter-milk, Water-purpy, Well-cresses, or other Sallads, which the common People seek after in the Spring as a part of their Diet as well as for Medicine. Abd.27 1920 (old rhyme):
The Monks of Deer drank Biffie beer, On Fridays when they fasted, And when unwell, they drank Herb-ale, Till Death stood flabbergasted.
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"Herb n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 19 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/snd00088935>
