Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 2005 (SND, online supplement).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
DEPAIRTMENT, n. also depertment. Sc. forms of Eng. department (depairtment Fif., Ayr., Rxb.; depertment Bnff., Abd., Ags., Edb., Dmf. 2000s). wm.Sc. 1985 Liz Lochhead Tartuffe 35:
Pair Wee Marianne! Nothin' worth bummin'
Aboot in the looks depertment as faur as Ah cin see!Sc. 1996 Scotsman 6 Feb :
The concept of the "lad o' pairts" — the clever boy from the cottar houses spotted by the local dominie, and picked out and nursed and trained for the university and a future career as minister, doctor, professor, dominie, or heid o' the depairtment — was utterly and splendidly elitist.Sc. 2004 Times 29 May :
In the Victorian stereotype, the Scot aims to be the heid o' depairtment. Heid o' the company, more like.Uls. 2004 Belfast News Letter 10 Apr 20:
Yeirs sine a gat a wee wheen o' seed prittas frae a bhoy wha hed a brither wrochtin fer the Depairtment o' Agriculture i Norlin Airlan.
